Naval Troops Rescue 15 Kidnapped Victims by Pirates, Uncover 48 Illegal Refineries
A combined team of the Navy and Army under the name – Troops of Operation Delta Safe – has rescued 15 kidnapped victims from pirates in Bayelsa state.
The kidnapped victims were freed at Nembe area of the state by the troops which also discovered 48 illegal refineries in Delta and Rivers states.
In a statement signed by the Directorate of Defence Media Operations, DDMO Coordinator, Major General John Enenche, said a naval patron team recovered 1.5 million litres of stolen crude oil in different operation.
According Enenche, the pirates had on sighting the routine patrol on Nembe Owelese in Bayelsa ran to the creeks.
The statement however said 15 persons who were held hostage in a speed boat by the kidnappers were rescued.
The Nigerian Navy Ship, Pathfinder, patrol team had also in a similar exercise intercepted three barges – MV Rock 1, Julianah and another unidentified barge laden with refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) at AGIP Waterfront believed to be illegal for bunkering.
Another barge laden with suspected stolen crude oil at Okochiri River entrance was also said to have been arrested.
Similarly, the troops of Sector 3, Operation Delta Safe, carried out a raid on sites used for reining at Otobie, Ogono, Dema Abby, Oputumbi , Nanabie and Promise Land where they discovered stolen crude oil.
According to the statement, “Items discovered and appropriately handled, include seven boilers, nine storage tanks, eight metal tanks, one dugout reservoir all filled with stolen crude oil.
“Others are eight metal tanks, 18 metal drums, 11 reservoir tanks filled with illegally refined AGO and Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK). Also, two empty Cotonou boats, one generator set, one pumping machine, two welding machines, one filing machine, rolls of hose, and one speedboat mounted with 75 HP engine (use for illegal bunkering activities) were also discovered within the site.
“Overall, a total of three weapons were recovered, 48 illegal refineries, 28 surface metal storage tanks, 60 cooking ovens and 18 Cotonou boats amongst others were discovered, while about 58,500 litres of DPK, 11,750 liters of PMS, 855,900 litres of AGO and an estimated 1,507,000 litres of crude oil were seized by troops”.
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