Troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army (NA) operating in 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.
Director, Army Public Relations, Brig- Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu in a statement issued Saturday said the operation was part of sustained effort to deny oil thieves freedom of action in the South-south Nigeria and to protect the oil sector from economic sabotage.
He said the combined team of anti-oil theft troops made the discovery on Saturday in a sting operation following a surveillance report on the illicit activities of illegal oil refiners in the area.
He said the vigilant troops on storming the illegal refining site, discovered 35 Modular Ovens used for illegal refining of crude oil, three fabricated reservoirs, 30 Dug out reservoirs and 75 Galvanized pipes.
Nwachukwu noted that the operatives have since clamped down on the illegal refining site.
He said the army enjoined 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.
