NewStats: 3,264,990 , 8,185,276 topics. Date: Friday, 13 June 2025 at 04:50 AM 1w656e

The military high command says it has discovered and destroyed no fewer than 23 illegal crude oil refineries and arrested 60 suspected oil thieves in the last two weeks.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, disclosed this on Wednesday during military’s biweekly press briefing in Abuja.

There has been increased clampdown on oil theft in recent times following a directive by President Bola Tinubu to security agencies to crush oil theft.

Briefing journalists on Thursday, the military spokesman said, “Troops of Operation Delta Safe recovered 367,200 litres of crude oil, 27,150 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 550 assorted rounds of ammunition, 12 calibres of weapons, seven empty.

“Troops equally destroyed 22 illegal refining sites, 15 wooden boats, 34 storage tanks, 96 ovens, and 16 dugout pits, while a total of 60 suspected criminals were apprehended within the period.”

According to Buba, the military, through the operations in the last two weeks, foiled theft of crude oil worth N202,788,300.00.

He also defended the decision of the military to burn a Cameroon-bound vessel laden with stolen crude oil.

Operatives of the t Task Force, Operation Delta Safe, in collaboration with Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, had on July 11 set ablaze an oil vessel laden with 800,000 litres of stolen crude oil in Delta State.

The burning of the vessel drew criticisms from some quarters with the House of Representatives, on Tuesday cautioning the military and other security agencies to desist from burning vessels with stolen crude.

Reacting to the criticisms while fielding questions from journalists on Thursday, Buba said the burning of the vessel was in line with military’s Standard Operating Procedures on stolen crude oil.

He said, “There are Standard Operating Procedures concerning arrested vehicles, equipment, and vessels, among others, that are associated with oil theft. That procedure stipulates that such equipment, vehicle, or vessels should be destroyed instantly.”

Asked if the military would be amending the law, he said, “In the military, we work with instructions. Whatever instructions we get, we operate with it. If it is reviewed, we will operate with it. We do not make the laws, we work with the law given to us.”

On other military operations in the last two weeks, the military spokesman said troops raided no fewer than four hideouts of the of the Indigenous People of Biafra and arrested 12 in the South-East.

He said in the North-West, troops of Operation Whirl Punch neutralised nine terrorists and arrested 15. He added that 20 kidnapped civilians were rescued.

In North Central, he said, “In the course of the operations, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke recovered one AK47 rifle, one fabricated pistol, one locally-made pistol, one pump-action ammo, 14 rounds of 7.62mm special, a motorcycle, cartridge, a mobile phone, machete, axe, fake Nigerian Police ID card and the sum of N35,000.00 only.

“Troops also neutralised nine bandits and arrested 10 suspects while rescuing nine kidnapped civilians.”

https://punchng.com/military-destroys-23-illegal-refineries-arrests-60-oil-thieves/

Tompolo and Asari Dokubo want to finish bunkerers .... They keep leaking information , even Wike


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peekspot:


https://punchng.com/military-destroys-23-illegal-refineries-arrests-60-oil-thieves/

I agree with the house of representatives, the military should stop burning the ships with the stolen crude oil. We need more of this from our military.

Good.

It will take them some time to reassemble again

The government is trying to increase revenue by all means without reducing the cost of governance.

Good news

Look

What happened to the criminals causing soot in portharcourt city last year

Kpofire boys diesel wey dey damage engine

Audio as usual. Them no dey ever mention their names and owners at the top

Why

Damnnn niggar

Why destroying the refineries

Why not make them legal

Any advantage to fuel dropping
To
₦85.
RUBBISH.

Good job

Why not make illegal refineries legal nah. At least, we go see cheap fuel buy.

helinues:
Good.

It will take them some time to reassemble again

Hh

dododawa1:
Any advantage to fuel dropping
To
₦85.
RUBBISH.

if barrel of crude is $30 in International market. Yes it drops to below ₦85

tejumorelar:
Why not make illegal refineries legal nah. At least, we go see cheap fuel buy.

you be sure say e go work ?

Nice way to go

Why not allow these illegal oil refineries to function if they can help make the product affordable to the masses

Ok, that's good

Quick Questions:

1. Was any crude oil fraction discovered?
2. If yes, was it deemed manageable enough for use?
3. If yes, how much did it cost to refine those fractions?
4. Does it provide a viable alternative for us with the high cost of PMS amongst others?

Finally, if it could be done so efficiently by underdogs in the game (assuming pollution can be taken care of with proper management), why are our refineries not working yet?

H

What is the quality of products being refined in those illegal refinery?

It makes no sense to keeping destroying them, further polluting the environment.

The FG over the years should have acknowledged that those engage in the crude ways of refining the oil have the basic knowledge, get them to become legal in their operations, get them trained on best practices, to improve quality of production, sell crude oil to them at a rate that would discourage stealing what is in their backyard as truth be told , the oil is primarily theirs. Their production activities would reduce the dependence on imported fuel.

Godsonkemz:
Why not allow these illegal oil refineries to function if they can help make the product affordable to the masses

No, it is not environmentally friendly, and it will encourage other people to venture into it.

Politics.
Masses will always be at the receiving end

tollyboy5:
The government is trying to increase revenue by all means without reducing the cost of governance.

Tinubu that will soon die a painful death, a drug dealer allowed to be president....
Tax kill him and his family

slawomir:
Damnnn niggar

Why destroying the refineries

Why not make them legal

Make an illegal refinery legal, are you thinking with your anus? Seems the life of people in the community is worthless to u. Village boy.

Every things are been looted

From underground cable

Railway line

Crude oil

Failed state, into failing mode