Troops of the Nigerian Army, personnel from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and private security outfit, Tantita have uncovered an illegal oil refining site in Ughelli south in Delta.
In a statement on Sunday, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu said the security operatives carried out a sting operation on the site after an intelligence report.
He added that the operatives discovered 35 Modular Ovens used for illegal refining of crude oil, 3 fabricated reservoirs, 30 dug-out reservoirs, and 75 galvanized pipes.
Nwachukwu said: “In a sustained effort to deny oil thieves freedom of action in South-South Nigeria and protect the Oil sector from economic sabotage, troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army operating in 6 Division Area of Responsibility, in conjunction with operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, 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.
“The combined team of anti-oil theft troops discovered on Saturday, 29th 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, 3 fabricated Reservoirs, 30 Dug out Reservoirs, and 75 Galvanized pipes”.
He noted that the operatives had since clamped down on the illegal refining site.
Nwachukwu enjoined the 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.
