Troops of the Nigerian Army, in a combined effort with officers of other paramilitary outfits in Nigeria, have clamped down on major illegal oil refining sites in Ughelli, Delta State.
This was revealed in a statement on Sunday, July 30, 2023, by Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director Army Public Relations.
According to Nwachukwu, “in a sustained effort to deny oil thieves freedom of action in South-South Nigeria and protect the Oil sector from economic sabotage, troops of the 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army (NA) operating in the 6 Division Area of Responsibility, in conjunction with operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as well as operatives of Tantita Security, have uncovered a major illegal oil refining site at Owahwa community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
“The combined team of anti-oil theft troops made the discovery on Saturday, July 29, 2023, in a sting operation following a surveillance report on the illicit activities of illegal oil refiners in the area”.
He further stated that “the vigilant troops, on storming the illegal refining site, discovered 35 Modular Ovens used for illegal refining of crude oil, 3 fabricated Reservoirs, 30 dug-out reservoirs, and 75 Galvanized pipes”.
“The operatives have since clamped down on the illegal refining site,” he added.
Furthermore, he urged members of the public to report activities involving illegal oil refining and bunkering to the appropriate authorities.
“The Nigerian Army enjoins all law-abiding citizens to continue to support the ongoing anti-oil theft operations by reporting all suspected illicit oil refining and bunkering activities in their areas to the security agencies,” he stated.
