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Troops of the Nigerian Army have seized about one million litres of crude oil believed to have been stolen from wellheads in Rivers State.<\/p>\n

Brig.-Gen. Eddie Effiong, Commander, 6 Division Garrison, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, disclosed this on Saturday when he led journalists on a tour of illegal bunkering sites in Odagwa community in Etche, Rivers State.<\/p>\n

He said that troops discovered the crude oil stored in eight large reservoirs following a tip-off about the operation of illegal refineries in a dense forest in the area.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe tip-off indicated that after we had destroyed an illegal refinery around the area previously, the oil thieves regrouped and re-established another site opposite the former location.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe found eight reservoirs and five coking pots at the new site, with each reservoir having a minimum of 100,000 litres of stolen crude oil.<\/p>\n

\u201cAltogether, the reservoirs at the site hold no less than one million litres of stolen crude oil, awaiting to be refined into diesel,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n

Effiong added that the division had initiated measures to curb all illegal refining operations in its four coverage states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will keep trailing the oil thieves and continue to destroy their illegal refining sites regardless of how difficult the terrain might be.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are also talking to them through their village heads and youth leaders and urging them to renounce their illegal activities to pursue legitimate businesses.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe nation\u2019s economy heavily relies on crude oil; the more they engage in this illegal activity, the more it impacts negatively on the economy and on all of us,\u2019\u2019 he stressed.<\/p>\n

Effiong noted that current economic hardship in the country should not be an excuse for involvement in crime and in criminal activities.<\/p>\n

He noted also that the nation was already bearing the brunt of oil theft, and continued indulgence in such acts would exacerbate the situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe urge those involved in these illegal activities to desist immediately and seek lawful means of livelihood,\u2019\u2019 he advised.<\/p>\n

Troops recover 1 million litres of stolen crude oil in Rivers<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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