In a concerted effort to combat oil theft and protect the country’s oil sector from economic sabotage, the 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army, operating under the 6 Division Area of Responsibility, collaborated with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Tantita Security to uncover a significant illegal oil refining site in Owahwa community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, South South Nigeria.
The discovery was made during a well-planned sting operation on July 29, 2023, following a surveillance report that alerted authorities to the illicit activities of illegal oil refiners in the area. The combined team of anti-oil theft troops, acting on the information, raided the site, leading to the discovery of 35 Modular Ovens used for illegal refining of crude oil, 3 fabricated Reservoirs, 30 Dug out Reservoirs, and 75 Galvanized pipes.
Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, confirmed the success of the operation and stated that the illegal refining site had been effectively shut down by the vigilant operatives. He urged law-abiding citizens to play their part in the ongoing efforts against oil theft by promptly reporting any suspected illicit oil refining or bunkering activities in their respective areas to the security agencies.
The joint operation signifies the determination of the Nigerian authorities to curb oil theft and protect the nation’s vital oil resources from criminal exploitation.
