Troops of the Nigerian Army have destroyed over 115 illegal refining sites, 66 wooden

boats, and arrested 22 suspects in Bayelsa state.

A statement on its social media platform, the Army said it has also recovered 27 stolen

pipes, 4 pumping machines, 5 illegal connections clamped and over 170,000 stolen

products confiscated in addition to other ancillary items deactivated.

The statement said, in Bayelsa State, troops of the Division, conducted operations

around the swampy Ibidi general area, Twon Brass, Agip Terminal in Brass Local

Government Area and recovered one illegal refining site, one generator, one pumping

machine, one reservoir as well as one large wooden boat with stolen refined products

estimated to be over 90,000 litres was intercepted, while, in Southern Ijaw LGA, around

Igbomotoru, 2 illegal refining sites, one wooden boat as well as over 2000 products

were confiscated. In the same LGA, around Opotoma and Isinugbene, troops

deactivated 2 illegal refining sites and confiscated over 2500 litres of stolen crude.

The statement also said, in Southern Ijaw LGA, 4 illegal refining sites, 2 wooden boats,

and pumping machines were recovered, in addition to over 2500 litres of stolen crude

confiscated, while, at Okarki forest, one illegal artisanal refinery was destroyed with over

5,000 stolen crude confiscated.