The Joint Military Force deployed to the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe, on Saturday destroyed three illegal oil distillation sites in Delta and Rivers.

Spokesman of Operation Delta Safe, Maj. Abubakar Abdullahi, who confirmed the development, noted that the operation was part of renewed effort to protect oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta region.

He emphasised that the military has intensified its operation to frustrate the activities of oil thieves and vandals whom he described as economic saboteurs across the region.

Abdullahi said in a statement issued on Saturday: “Troops of Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS) Delta successfully carried out a raid on two illegal refineries along Lapase Creek in Warri South of Delta State.

“During the raid, 11 metal tanks, five dug pits with about 1,750 tons of suspected stolen crude oil and 170 tons of illegally refined AGO were impounded.

“Also, troops of Sector 3 also destroyed a large illegal refinery with multiple dumps at Alakiri in Rivers State.

“The oil thieves, on sighting our troops set fire on parts of their bunkering camp to deny access to the illegal site. However, the troops put off the fire and destroyed the illegal refinery site.”

The Spokesman solicited the support of law abiding members of the public to operational activities of Operation Delta Safe with valuable information that would lead to achieving their mandate and securing oil facilities.

He said: “We are here to protect oil and gas infrastructure; deter and prevent sea robbery; crude oil theft and other criminalities within the Joint Area of Operation that could impact negatively on economic activities in the Niger Delta.”

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