The Joint Task Force, “Operation Delta Safe’’ (OPDS), on Friday destroyed over 40 illegal refining sites in Ukwa forest, in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia.
The task force found and destroyed over 17 clusters with different names, each of the clusters has a cooking section.
Rear Adm. John Okeke, Commander of the joint military force who led the operation said that over 40 sites operating in the area were refining stolen crude oil siphoned by oil thieves.
“Like I told you guys on assumption of office, on February 15, 2024 that the joint operation Area of Operation Delta Safe, will never be safe haven for illegality, especially those criminals that have chosen to be stealing our oil.
“I made it clear then on assumption of duty, that if they are not ready to indulge in legitimate business, they have two options: either they relocate to another area or they embrace legitimate business.
“But here we are today in Ukwa West of Abia state, bordering Oyigbo LGA, of Rivers State, the criminals felt that we will never get to this place, but here we are.
“It is surprising to note that within here we have over 17 divisions, according to their naming, each of this division has a cooking of over 40 sites.
“Today we have been able to traverse 40 of such sites. Of course behind me you will see the one that construction is on going far larger than two trucks.
“You can imaging the quantity of products they would have stolen and refined here.
“So, I want to say today we are not going to relent for those of them that do not want to abide by extant regulations regarding petroleum products. I will advise them to relocate before we will come for them,” he said.
He said that for those who do not know the challenges the JTF encounters in their operations even when you have access to overflying, you may not clearly pick the illicit activities going on.
“Here sometimes a lot of you begin to wonder but you can see it yourself. We are under thick forest even if you are flying your drones or helicopter, you will not be able to observe anything.
“But thank God for leveraging intelligence, that is why I will always call on the civil population as they are very critical to our operation.
“We have been partnering with civil populace this war against oil theft cannot be done by the military alone and other component, like police, civil defence.
“Others are SSS, Immigration, and Customs, all of us. It cannot be done by government security agencies alone, we need your support Nigerians.
“We need to rip off this from our joint operation Area and support the federal government to stabilise the economy,” he said.