On Wednesday, soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division destroyed eight operational refineries used to refine stolen crude oil near Ogbokoko and Atu in the Warri South local government area of Delta.
Onyema Nwachukwu, director of army public relations, said on Thursday in Abuja that the forces also destroyed 14 refineries that contained 90,000 liters of diesel and an estimated 200,000 liters of stolen crude oil.
He claimed that forces engaged in anti-oil theft operations carried out the destruction in the area in one swift motion.
According to brigadier general Nwachukwu, the oil robbers escaped as they saw the military moving forward.
“The illegal refining site was destroyed in line with extant guidelines of `Operation Delta Safe’. Investigation is ongoing to arrest the fleeing criminals.
“Members of the public are implored to report any suspected act of sabotage or criminality to security agencies to enhance ongoing operations to curb economic sabotage in the country,’’ Nwachukwu stated.
The Nigerian government has long been concerned about oil theft, illegal bunkering in oil-producing towns, mostly in South-South Nigeria, and its detrimental effects on the nation’s economy.
Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, was given a pipeline surveillance contract by the Nigerian Government in August 2022, reportedly valued N48 billion annually, to stop widespread oil theft in the area.
