The troops of the Nigerian military attached to the Operation Delta Safe have rescued 15 abducted persons at Nembe Owelesu in Bayelsa State.
The Defence Headquarters, Abuja, stated this on Tuesday, noting that the troops of Sectors 2 and 3 also uncovered 48 illegal refineries, 58,500 litres of diesel, 855,900 litres of petrol and 1,507,000 litres of crude oil in communities of Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta states.
The Defence Media Operations in a statement noted that the rescued victims, the recovered items and the arrested suspects would be handed over to the appropriate authorities at the end of preliminary investigation.
The DMO Coordinator, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, said, “Troops of Sector 2 while on a routine patrol at Nembe Owelesu, Bayelsa State, encountered sea robbers at Abuja Open Water-Nembe.
“The sea robbers, on sighting the troops’ gunboats, escaped into the creeks. However, troops rescued 15 persons held hostage in five speedboats by the hoodlums.
“Similarly, on April 23, acting on a tip-off, the Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder patrol team intercepted and arrested three barges for suspected involvement in illegal bunkering activities. Troops of Operation Delta Safe conducted raids on four illegal refining sites along Dema Abby, Oputumbi, Nanabie, Promise Land to Otobie and Ogono general areas.
“Also, troops of Sector 2 at Odau community in Abua and the Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State arrested three suspected pipeline vandals around the Shell Petroleum Development Company pipeline. Overall, three weapons were recovered, while 48 illegal refineries, 28 surface metal storage tanks, 60 cooking ovens and 18 Cotonou boats, among others, were discovered.”
