By Fatima Zahra Muhammad
ASHENEWS reports that security operatives comprising of troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army (NA), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as well as operatives of Tantita Security, have shut down an illegal refinery site in Owahwa community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director, Army Public Relations stated this in a statement issued on Sunday.
Nwachukwu said that the shutdown followed surveillance by the team on the activities of the criminals.
“The combined team of anti-oil theft troops discovered on Saturday 29 July 2023 in a sting operation following a surveillance report on the illicit activities of illegal oil refiners in the area.
“The vigilant troops on storming the illegal refining site, discovered 35 Modular Ovens used for illegal refining of crude oil, 3 fabricated Reservoirs, 30 Dug out Reservoirs, and 75 Galvanized pipes.
“The operatives have since clamped down the illegal refining site,” the statement said.
The statement urged citizens to continue to support the ongoing anti-oil theft operations by reporting all suspected illicit oil refining and bunkering activities in their areas to the security agencies.