The Nigerian Army has destroyed 11 illegal refineries and 13 storage tanks belonging to suspected crude oil thieves in Elele Alimini , Emohua Local Government Area of Rives State.
This was contained in a statement by the Nigeria Army Operations Media Coordinator, Colonel Illiyasu Aminu and made available to newsmen at the weekend in Port Harcourt.
The statement revealed that the feat was the effort of the troops of 343 Artillery Regiment after it arrested a truck with Registration Number EPE 24 XG loaded with substance suspected to be stolen crude oil at Elele Alimini Road with three occupants.
Other items recovered from the suspected oil thrives include, two boats loaded with alleged stolen crude oil, 3,200 litres of illegally refined substance believed to be petroleum products and three metal tanks containing illegally refined petroleum products.
Iliyasu in the statement added that one speed boat mounted with 75 Horse Power engine, Four Cotonou boats, three welding machines, 3 generating sets, one gas cylinder, two iron plates, eight iron pipes, five pumping machines and seven boilers under construction were also confiscated.
According to the Army, the troop will not relent on the efforts to thwart the activities of miscreants and their collaborators until the nation was rid of criminal elements.
In another development, the Army in Edo state also smashed a notorious armed robbery gang which specialized in robbing commuters at Uhumwaede Local Government of the state
The statement further revealed that the operation led to the arrest of a member of the gang said to be known as Mr. Evans Obidili Ubaka.
Another achievement of the troops in team with the Nigerian Police, Oredo Command, it added, was the successful arrest of a notorious kidnappers’ informant named ‘Jaguar’.
It hinted that the suspect was the brain behind the kidnap of a certain man, his son and pregnant wife recently in the area.