A combined security troops have discovered and shut down a major illegal oil refinery in Owawha Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
This was contained in a release by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, dated 30 July, 2023.
The exercise was part of a sustained effort to deny oil thieves freedom of action in the South-South Region and protect the oil sector from economic sabotage.
The security teams involved in the operation included troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army (NA) operating in 6 Division Area of Responsibility and;
Operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as well as operatives of Tantita Security.
“The combined team of anti-oil theft troops made the discovery on Saturday, 29 July, 2023 in a sting operation following a surveillance report on the illicit activities of illegal oil refiners in the area.
“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.
“The operatives have since clamped down the illegal refining site,” Brigadier General Nwachukwu stated in the release.
The Nigerian Army enjoined law-abiding citizens to continue to support the ongoing anti-oil theft operations.
This, the Army said, can be done by reporting all suspected illicit oil refining and bunkering activities in their areas to security agencies.
