The Joint Task Force named Operation Delta Safe found more than 50 illegal sites where crude oil is being refined in the Biseni area of Yenagoa Local Government Area in Bayelsa State.
The leader of the JTF, John Okeke, who headed the operation on Sunday, mentioned that each of the sites was involved in the illegal refining of stolen crude oil.
Okeke had previously warned oil thieves in the area to stop the illegal refining of crude oil or to move to other areas.
No arrests were made, but he asked people in the area to provide useful information to help stop the illegal business, as the JTF cannot do it alone.
He assured that the JTF would keep pursuing the oil thieves with what he called a clearance action, and warned that the JTF may take more severe measures.
Also found in the area was a large open pit dug by the oil thieves that could hold over 10 trucks of Alternative Gas Oil.
It is believed that the open pit is used to store stolen crude oil, which is then distributed to their refining sites.
Okeke mentioned that on May 9, 2024, the JTF team was at Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State bordering Rivers State at a contiguous forest shared by both states along the Imo River.
He said, “Today, as I said, we are not going to relent and it is a work in progress. We will not get tired, we will continue. We are in Biseni in Yenagoa LGA of Bayelsa.
“We transverse from Ahoada West LGA of Rivers to reach this point; the most surprising thing is that this place we are now is housing over 50 cooking sites with unique arrangements.”
According to him, the thieves in the area connected a two-inch pipe, a galvanized pipe, directly to the supply oil line on the road, from a distance of about a kilometre.
Continuing, he said, “Then they have various arrangements of D connection, multiple connections, where each of the thieves gets his supply from a large dug-out open pit that can accommodate more than 10 trucks of AGO, holding crude oil, from where they distribute to their cooking sites”.
Okeke stated, “Look at the thick forest we are in now. You can never imagine that such a serious crime is going on here. If not for the good-spirited individual who volunteered information, we wouldn’t have known.”
Okeke further added, “It seems like they thought we were being lenient, but I can assure you that it is getting out of control if we continue to stop this illicit activity.
“I will start to push for more serious measures to deal with this challenge because the country is suffering from these illegal oil activities.
“If you allow these activities to keep happening, the legitimate people in the business will not be able to sell their products because these criminals will sell at much lower prices.
“The government needs revenue for development, which is why we are committed to fighting this battle and we will not give up”.
