Troops of the Nigerian Army, personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Tantita Security have uncovered an illegal oil refining site in Ughelli South in Delta State.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Sunday, said the security operatives carried out a sting operation on the site after an intelligence report.
He added that “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 galvanised pipes.”
Onyema said, “In a sustained effort to deny oil thieves freedom of action in the 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, July 29, 2023, in a sting operation following a surveillance report on the illicit activities of illegal oil refiners in the area.”