February 01, (THEWILL) – Troops of the 6-Division of the Nigerian Army, have uncovered 15 boilers and 9 reservoirs with the capacity to hold 5 million litres of crude oil from illegal refinery operators at Obuama and Uzuama communities in the Kom Kom area of Oyigbo local government area of Rivers State.
General Officer Commanding of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army and Theatre Commander, Operation Delta Safe Land Component, Major Gen. Jamal Abdussalam, said the army also met, along the river, more than five fully loaded, large Cotonou boats capable of taking upwards of 200,000 to 300,000 litres of crude oil each.
Major Gen. Abdussalam said men of the command carried out the operation on Wednesday based on credible intelligence on the activities of oil thieves.
“In continuation of our operations to destroy illegal refineries and connections within our area of responsibility, and based on credible intelligence early this morning, January 31, 2024, our troops raided this location.
“I thought we would not see anything more than the last raid we carried out in Odagwa, but unfortunately, we are seeing very sad and massive illegal activities taking place in this area also.
“We will not get tired, we will continue doing our job until we get rid of these activities in this area.
“We have not been able to get the real culprits. No arrest has been made and as I said before, most of the arrests we make are people and individuals that are just menial labourers working on the sites.
“The real culprits, we have not been able to get them. As you can see, the facilities here are not something a common person on the road will come and set up.
“As you can see, the facilities here, it is not a common person on the road that will come to set up, it needs money, expertise and careful setting beyond the labourers we arrested last time”, the GOC stated.
“Our message has always remained the same, this activity is criminal, illegal and dirty. We call on these criminals who are into these activities to embrace peace and engage in legitimate business like other Nigerians and allow the government to do what it’s supposed to do”, he said.
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