Operatives of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) in synergy with TANTITA Security on Thursday uncovered and destroyed two revamped oil bunkering camps in Egbema West of Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
Director Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement issued Friday said the troops completely shut down the operation of the illegal refining site containing 44 drum ovens, three reservoirs of estimated 30,000 litres capacity of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 53 sacks of AGO.
He added that troops of 3 Battalion in conjunction with members of NSCDC as well as TANTITA Security Services also destroyed four active illegal refining camps in Opumami Community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Nwachukwu noted that the anti oil theft operatives destroyed three wooden boats, six ovens, six reservoirs, 11 drums containing illegally refined AGO, one large reservoir loaded with stolen crude oil, 38 sacks of stolen crude oil and two tapping hoses.
He said, “Operatives of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) in synergy with TANTITA Securityconducting Anti Oil Theft Operations in Southern Nigeria, have intensified the fight against criminals sabotaging Nigeria’s oil sector, as troops of 34 Artillery Brigade on Thursday 7 September 2023 uncovered and destroyed two revamped oil bunkering camps in Egbema West of Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.”
Meanwhile, in a separate sustained operation to rid the North East Nigeria of terrorism and insurgency, Nwachukwu noted that combined troops of 192 Battalion and 26 Task Force Brigade Garrison in conjunction with Hybrid Force, on Thursday 7 September 2023, conducted offensive operations within the general areas of Gobara, Ambaga and Madachi in Gwoza L ocal Government Areas of Borno State.
He revealed that during the operations, troops neutralized 3 Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) and recovered one AK 47 rifle, one Beretta Pistol, 17 rounds of 7.62mm Special Ammunition, 4 rounds of 9 mm Ammunition and a Dane Gun.
Also, combined troops of 231 battalion and 331 Artillery Regiment, while mounting a Stop and Search operation along Biu – Maiduguri road intercepted five BHT logistics suppliers and recovered two vehicles conveying 20 bags of maize, 11 bags of soya beans, 11 bags of biscuits, 14 bags of rice, 46 bags of corn flours and the sum of N3.186 million.
Nwachukwu stressed that suspects are currently in custody helping with further investigation.