Troops of the Nigerian Army (NA) in synergy with personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) discovered 12 active illegal refining sites, 60 crude oil cooking ovens, 14 reservoirs, 6 wooden boats laden with stolen crude and 470 sacks of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) concealed in the camps in Delta state.
A statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu said that this is in continuation of the crackdown on saboteurs of Nigeria’s oil sector in Southern Nigeria.
ANTI OIL THEFT OPERATIONS: TROOPS UNCOVER ILLEGAL OIL BUNKERING SITES IN OWAHWA, TSELEKU COMMUNITIES IN DELTA STATE, INTERCEPT BOATS, VEHICLE LADEN WITH ILLEGAL OIL PRODUCTS
Troops of the Nigerian Army (NA) in synergy with personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence… pic.twitter.com/katZaO6lH1
— Nigerian Army (@HQNigerianArmy) September 4, 2023
The Troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion conducting anti-oil theft operations on Saturday 2 September 2023, cracked down on oil thieves’ camps in Owahwa Creek in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta state.
The troops also intercepted a vehicle conveying 25 polytene bags of suspected illegally refined AGO in the Ogbodu Community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.
In a similar operation, also conducted on 2 September 2023, troops of 3 Battalion, intercepted two wooden boats ladened with stolen crude in Tsekelewu, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta state. The troops also arrested two suspects in connection with the crime. Both suspects and the illegal products have been handed over to NSCDC personnel attached to Tantita Security Services for further action.
The Nigerian Army called on members of the public to report any suspected act of sabotage or criminality to security agencies to enhance ongoing operations to curb economic sabotage in the country.