Troops lead by the General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdulsalam have raided several illegal oil bunkering sites at Obama and Uzoma in Kom-Kom Community at Oyingbo Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State.
During the raid on the 31 January, 2024, the GOC, who is also the Land Component Commander Joint Task Force Operation DELTA SAFE expressed the determination of troops to continually deny criminals freedom of action in the region.
In a statement by the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah, General Abdussalam warned vandals and economic saboteurs for the umpteenth time to shun illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta Region (NDR) and embrace legitimate ventures.
The raid is in continuation of an upscaled clampdown on all forms of criminalities around waterways, creeks and rivulets in the NDR.
While conducting pressmen at the sites, the GOC said troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, during a raid in the early hours of 31 January 2024, discovered over 15 Boilers, 9 Reservoirs, extensive interconnected pipes amongst several other items used for the organized large scale criminality.
He further stated that the crude oil that has been stolen and reserved for processing is over 5 million liters. He pointed out that en route the location, countless numbers of large Cotonou Boats, capable of transporting over 200,000 liters filled with crude oil were intercepted.
Major General Abdussalam therfore called on the perpetrators of these criminal acts to shun illegal oil bunkering, as it is illegal, criminal, and dirty. He equally called on them to embrace legitimate means of businesses and allow the government to do what is supposed to do.
“We can see the facilities here. It is not something that ordinary people can set up. It needs money, expertise, and careful planning
“So it is beyond the people we arrest. We are following several leads, and we are hoping that those leads will take us to those who are actually responsible. This activity is illegal, criminal, and dirty. We call on people to embrace legitimate businesses,” he said.
The onslaught against economic vandals in the NDR is not unconnected with the resolve of the Land Component, Operation DELTA SAFE to take out illegal economic hubs and their merchants in the region.
This clampdown is coming just a few weeks after the Division destroyed large-scale illegal bunkering sites at Odogwa in Etche LGA.
