Emma Arubi & Akpokona Omafuaire
23 May 2012, Sweetcrude, WARRI— MEN of 3 Battallion, Effurun, Delta State, and Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta, Tuesday, in Isaba, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, destroyed over 1,500 illegal oil refineries and arrested three persons.
The raid, which is coming barely two weeks after the Army destroyed over 600 illegal refineries, also led to the discovery of illegal refineries at Esaba community in Ughelli-South Local Government Area of the state.
The operation, which lasted over five hours, saw the army destroying over 3,000 drums of refined diesel, 700 surface tanks filled with diesel, over ten pumping machines, three generating sets, 600 hoses, five Contonou boats, three speed boats and numerous huts.
Lt. Col. Ifeanyi Otu, Commanding Officer, 3 Battallion, who led the operation, said: “Honestly, today (Tuesday) was tremendous, you saw the high scale of illegal bunkering.
“Today’s operation is far more than the previous one, where we destroyed over 600 illegal refineries. Definitely, from the scale, you will understand that the Federal Government is loosing a lot.
“This exercise will be continuous and sustained. People should engage in legitimate businesses. The only pre-emptive measure being taken is to frustrate their businesses by continuing to destroy the illegal refineries.
“The exercise is aimed at stopping illegal bunkering and reduce loss of national revenue. We will not record casualties but we will not stop until they stop. Those arrested will be handed over for prosecution.”
