In a resolute bid to thwart oil theft and safeguard the nation’s oil sector from economic sabotage, the 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army, operating under the 6 Division Area of Responsibility, joined forces with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Tantita Security operatives.
Director Army Public Relations Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu said the combined team recently uncovered a major illegal oil refining site in Owahwa community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, South South Nigeria.
He said The discovery was made during a sting operation following a surveillance report on the illicit activities of oil thieves in the region.
The vigilant troops, acting on the surveillance report, stormed the illegal refining site on Saturday, July 29, 2023, where they unearthed a sophisticated setup used for the illegal refining of crude oil.
Among the items seized were 35 Modular Ovens, 3 fabricated Reservoirs, 30 Dugout Reservoirs, and 75 Galvanized pipes.
Swift action was taken by the operatives, and the illegal refining site has been effectively clamped down.
The Nigerian Army calls upon all law-abiding citizens to continue their invaluable support in the ongoing efforts to combat oil theft by promptly reporting any suspected illicit oil refining and bunkering activities in their respective areas to the security agencies.
With joint determination and vigilance, the combined forces aim to deny oil thieves the freedom to engage in illegal activities and protect the integrity of the oil sector, crucial to the nation’s economy
