The Nigerian Army personnel, in conjunction with operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, have discovered a total of 12 illicit oil refining plants in Owahwa Creek, located in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta state.
The agents additionally uncovered a total of 60 rudimentary oil cooking furnaces, 14 reservoirs, six wooden boats carrying illicitly obtained crude oil, and 470 sacks containing unlawfully processed Automotive Gas Oil within the encampments.
According to a statement released on Monday by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, it was disclosed that the military personnel also successfully seized illegally acquired crude oil in the Udu and Tsekelewu regions of Warri North Local Government Areas in Delta state.
The statement read, “Troops of the Nigerian Army in synergy with personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps have continued to crack down on saboteurs of Nigeria’s oil sector in Southern Nigeria.
“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. In the crackdown, the vigilant troops 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 AGO concealed in the camps.
“Relatedly, the same troops also intercepted a vehicle conveying 25 polytene bags of suspected illegally refined AGO in Ogbodu Community, in the 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.”
Onyema reported that two oil theft suspects were apprehended in Tsekelewu LGA.
“The troops also arrested two suspects in connection with the crime. Both suspects and the illegal products have been handed over to the NSCDC personnel attached to Tantita Security Services for further action.
“Members of the public are implored to report any suspected act of sabotage or criminality to security agencies to enhance ongoing operations to curb economic sabotage in the country, ” the statement added.
