By Hosea parah

Troops of the Nigerian Army (NA) in synergy with personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have discovered 12 active illegal refining sites, cracked down on oil thieves’ camps in Owahwa Creek in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta state.

Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu in disclosed in a press statement that troops have continued to crack down on saboteurs of Nigeria’s oil sector in Southern Nigeria.

General Nwachukwu said, troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion conducting anti oil theft operations on Saturday 2 September 2023.

He noted that in the crackdown, the vigilant troops discovered 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.

He said, the same troops also intercepted a vehicle conveying 25 polytene bags of suspected illegally refined AGO in Ogbodu Community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.

In a similar operation, also conducted on 2 September 2023, troops of 3 Battalion, intercepted two wooden boats ladened with stolen crude in Tsekelewu, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta state.

The troops also arrested two suspects in connection with the crime. Both suspects and the illegal products have been handed over to NSCDC personnel attached to Tantita Security Services for further action.

General Nwachukwu therefore implored Nigerians to report any suspected act of sabotage or criminality to security agencies to enhance ongoing operations to curb economic sabotage in the country.