There have been further attacks targeted at oil thieves engaged in illegal bunkering activities close to the Rivers boundary with Abia State.
The Nigerian Military has of late launched relentless attacks against the operations of oil thieves.
The attacks are coming in the wake of a meeting of military top brass in Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital.
Governor Nyesom Wike who addressed Army bigwigs Tuesday had called for the deployment of technological driven tactics in order to win the war against insurgents.
Wednesday, special forces who are taking the war to illegal bunkers struck again.
Much as the activities of these oil thieves are leading to the loss of billions of dollars, illegal bunkering is equally helping to pollute the Niger Delta environment.
Similarly, their nefarious acts are also endangering the health of the people through the release of black soot, a by-product of their refining operations, into the atmosphere.
Eyewitnesses told the Port Harcourt Telegraph Wednesday that military choppers were in action at Umungede and Umuolilo areas of Owaza in Abia State.
There has been no indication that lives were lost, but our Correspondent, Dan Nnodim reports that the ferrecious gunboats attacked and destroyed illegal bunkering camps in the two Abia communities.
Earlier, the Telegraph reported that illegal bunkerers operating within the area demarcated as the Nkali oilfields otherwise known as OML 17 are on the run.
Other miscreants engaged in crude oil theft at Umungede and Umuolilo communities who came under attack Wednesday are now fleeing from the area in order to avoid being killed or taken into custody.
Information reaching our news desk say special forces despatched to oil bearing communities within OML 17 successfully raided oil bunkering points at Odagwa in Rivers State and Obuzor in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.
The Telegraph has learnt through dependable sources that about 14 persons sustained injuries at Obuzor after a raid was carried out earlier.
Military helicopters are believed to have similarly provided back up in the air for troops on land while the operation lasted.
On the Rivers side, no casualty was however recorded.
Our sources in Odagwa confirmed that the security operatives met no resistance.
We have also gathered that the special forces destroyed everything the bunkerers used for their illegal activities at Odagwa and Obuzor.
The Federal Government has been frowning at the breakage of oil pipelines.
Oil remains the major revenue earner although the Buhari administration is trying to diversify the Nigerian economy.
Recall that as part of its divestment plan, Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, sold its shares in OML 17 to an Indigenous group, Heirs, controlled by Tony Elumelu.
