Troops of the Nigerian Army (NA) in synergy with personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have intercepted boats and vehicles laden with illegal oil products in Owahwa, Delta state.
Director Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement issued Monday said it was part of efforts to crack down on saboteurs of Nigeria’s oil sector in Southern Nigeria.
He said: “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 Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) concealed in the camps.”
Nwachukwu added that troops have also intercepted a vehicle conveying 25 polythene bags of suspected illegally refined AGO in Ogbodu Community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.
He stressed that in a similar operation conducted on September 2, 2023, troops of 3 Battalion, intercepted two wooden boats ladened with stolen crude in Tsekelewu, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta state.
Nwachukwu said the troops also arrested two suspects in connection with the crime.
He added that both suspects and the illegal products have been handed over to NSCDC personnel attached to Tantita Security Services for further action.
He 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.