Military uncovers over 50 illegal refining sites in Bayelsa forest

Tamarauemi Ebimini

The military Joint Task Force in Niger Delta “Operation Delta Safe (OPDS)” has uncovered 50 illegal refining sites at the Biseni forest in Yenagoa Local Government Area in Bayelsa State.

Commander of OPDS, Rear Admiral John Okeke who led the operation, dislcosed to journalists that illegal refining of stolen crude oil was carried out at the sites everyday before it was busted by the military.

Okeke stated that a large dugout open pit discovered in ones of the illegal refining sites can accommodate more than 10 trucks of Alternative Gas Oil (AGO), holding crude oil from where they distribute to their cooking site.

“On May 9, 2024, we were at Ukwa West LGA, in Abua State bordering Rivers State, a contiguous forest bear a shared along Imo River,” he said.

“Today like I said we are not going to relent and is 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.

“Why are the thieves operating in this area decided to be so smart by connecting what is called theft line made of two inches pipe, a galvanized pipe connecting directly to supply oil line on the road, from a distance of one kilometer.

“Then they have a lot of funny connections where they have various arrangement of connection, multiple connection where each of the thief get their supply.

Okeke noted that a look at the thick forest, one would never imagine that such serious crime is going on there.

He praised the individual that informed the military as the reason for the discovery to be possible.