The Nigerian Army have destroyed at 27 illegal refineries and seized stolen crude oil following raids this week on oil bunkering sites in the Niger Delta region, an army spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Oil theft and sabotage of pipelines have hampered oil output in Nigeria, Africa’s top energy producer, and crippled exports, hurting government finances and leaving President Bola Tinubu with one of his biggest challenges.
Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Nigerian Army acting spokesperson said around 100,000 litres of stolen crude were seized during the raids on the refineries.
He added that three vehicles loaded with illegally refined fuel were also seized. The army spokesperson the raids were part of ongoing operations to curb oil theft and reduce illegal refineries.
“This was in addition to 2 storage reservoirs with over 80,000 litres of stolen crude confiscated. Also, 3 vehicles loaded with illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, stashed in GP tanks and sacks have been confiscated. The products confiscated are estimated to be over 8000 litres.”
Danjuma said that Nigerian Army troops of 16 Brigade in Cawthorne Channel II, in Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State in conjunction with other security agencies discovered and destroyed over four illegal refining sites with 3 metal drums, in addition to pits containing stolen crude estimated to be over 6000 litres.
“This feat is in addition to other pockets of seizures made by troops of 6 Division in the region. The products confiscated are being handled appropriately.
“The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, while commending troops for their renewed disposition to take criminal merchants out of business, charged them to ensure the integrity of the pipelines are maintained,” it noted.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")