Emmanuel Onani 
In its determination to check economic sabotage through ongoing anti-illegal oil bunkering operations in the Niger Delta, the military has seized about 2,640.5 barrels of stolen crude oil, 80,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) as well as 43,000 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
The amount of crude oil and PMS recovered from suspected economic saboteurs in the last one week was estimated at N46, 981,438.80.
Coordinator of the Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major-General John Enenche, who made the disclosure at an operational briefing held at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, yesterday, also noted that four suspected militants were killed during the special operations.
“In the Niger-Delta region, Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) troops have continued to degrade the activities of economic saboteurs through ongoing anti-illegal oil bunkering operations in the general area.
“Within the week under review, a total of five illegal refineries, 14 surface metal storage tanks, nine coolers, nine cooking ovens were confiscated and the site has been earmarked for swamp buggy operations.
“While about 2,640.5 barrels of stolen crude oil, 80,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil and 43,000 liters of Premium Motor Spirit were seized.
“Troops also neutralized four militants and recovered arms and ammunition during clearance operations on pirates/militants’ camps at Ibokiri and New Jerusalem in Degema Council Area of Rivers State”, Enenche said.
In a related development, the military said a total of 52 suspects had been neutralised across the theatres of operation, within the period under review.
