The Defence Headquarters has said it is rejigging on-going operations to combat crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region through comprehensive approach.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, stated this on Friday in Abuja, while giving an update on the operations of the military across the country.
Buba said the redesigned strategy aims to curb the menace of oil theft in the country.
The spokesman said that the operations would be conducted through a unified command structure for all security agencies operating in the region.
He said that the operations would target specific areas that had significant capability to boost crude oil production.
The targeted areas, according to him, includes, but not limited to enforcing and ensuring transparency by International Oil Companies operating in the region.
“Others are; ensuring the integrity of the metering systems deployed at flow stations and tracking of point of loading to destination point of the crude oil.
“Furthermore, operations will also concentrate on surveillance of the pipelines, jackets and well head to forestall breaches.
“Overall, operations will galvanise the support of the people of the Niger Delta as well as the stakeholders in the oil sector to support the drive to boost the nation’s oil production.
“Importantly, operations will ensure prosecution of culprits engaged in crude oil theft,’’ he said.
Buba said the military had during the week under review, apprehended 20 perpetrators of oil thieves and denied them of the estimated sum of N744.1 million.
He said the troops of Operation Delta Safe discovered and destroyed 11 dugout pits, five boats and 20 storage tanks.
“Other items recovered include 31 cooking ovens, five vehicles, three mobile phones and 31 illegal refining sites.
“Troops recovered 715,325 litres of stolen crude oil and 148,415 litres of illegally refined AGO,’’ he said.