Paschal Emeka, Abuja | Posted October 27, 2023
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has disclosed that troops in the last two weeks intercepted stolen crude worth N1.2 billion as Nigeria’s oil production capacity increased in September, 2023.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba made the revelation on Thursday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the activities of the Military in the past two weeks.
The Defence spokesperson promised that the Military will continue to incapacitate terrorists and prevent them from conducting small-scale attacks on soft targets.
He further disclosed that troops, in the course of their operations, in past week neutralized 73 terrorists, arrested 182, and rescued 68 hostages.
“The ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations have prevented these evil elements from accomplishing their strategic objectives.
“The Military will continue to degrade their ability to carry out small-scale attacks which are intended to create panic in localities.
Major General Buba informed that the troops identified and destroyed 63 illegal refining sites containing 15 dugout pits, 45 boats, 87 storage tanks, 128 cooking ovens, one pumping machine, four outboard engines and arrested 14 suspected oil thieves.
He added that the troops recovered 962,500 litres of stolen crude oil, 35,420 litres of illegally refined AGO, 38,450 litres of DPK, and 45,000 litres of PMS with an estimated value of N1, ,212,046,140.
Over the years, oil theft had been identified as a major challenge, militating against the country’s oil production capacity.
However, the renewed and vigorous fight against oil theft had increased the nation’s production capacity in September to 1.7 million barrels per day, up from the 1.1mbpd recorded in August.