The Nigerian Army has arrested 13 additional suspects and recovered two boats in Obuaku Community, as it continued to raid illegal refineries in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia.
The Monday operation is coming barely four days after it arrested six oil bunkerers and recovered 14 boats, some laden with crude oil at the neighbouring Isimini Waterside.
Addressing newsmen at the creek, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division, Enugu, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada said that about 1.5 million barrels of crude oil had been siphoned by oil bunkerers.
Dada, who led both operations, decried the economic and environmental impacts of the activities of oil bunkerers.
He the Army under Operation UDOKA, would not rest on its oars until bunkerers and other economic saboteurs were flushed out of the area.
He vowed never to allow oil bunkerers and economic saboteurs any breeding ground in any state within the Division.
” Illegal refineries cannot be allowed so that our economy will improve”, he said.
The GOC said that the suspects would be handed over to the appropriate agencies for prosecution.
He said that those found culpable would be made to bear the consequences of their actions.
The troop also destroyed illegal refineries and some of the improvised equipment including locally-fabricated drims and tanks used by the bunkerers.
One of the female suspects told journalists that she was selling polythene to people at the camp, and came to recover her debt when she was arrested.
She denied any involvement in the illegality, while sobbing profusely.
