By Abiola Olawale
The Nigerian military has said that its operatives recovered about 700,000 liters of stolen crude oil in a week-long operation in the Niger Delta region.
Defense Headquarters spokesperson, Major-General Edward Buba, who made this disclosure in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said the operation is part of the effort of the military to eliminate oil theft in the region.
Buba in the statement also confirmed that its personnel during the operation in the Niger Delta region were able to arrest 36 suspected oil thieves, release 133 kidnap victims from captivity, and seize about 270 weapons along with more than 5,000 rounds of ammunition.
Furthermore, Buba said that the troops demolished 51 dugout pits, 24 boats, 21 storage tanks, and over 20 unlawful oil refining facilities.
He also stated that security forces seized suspected oil theft proceeds to the tune of N637.7 million.
The statement reads in part: “The armed forces are working decisively to kill the terrorists, stop insecurity, and ensure the safety of citizens. Troops will continue to operate with tremendous force against the terrorists across the country,” Buba said.
The New Diplomat reports that the persistent issue of oil theft in the Niger Delta region remains a significant challenge, as military forces routinely uncover new illegal operations week after week.
This situation presents a significant challenge for the Federal Government as Nigeria continues to fall short of its quota to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
According to the March report from OPEC, Nigeria’s oil production has declined further to 1.2 million barrels per day, negatively impacting the country’s revenue and foreign exchange earnings.
