troops of the nigerian army have cracked down on an illegal oil camp belonging to suspected crude oil thieves in Obokofia, a community in the Ohaji/Egbema local government area of Imo state in southeastern Nigeria.
Army spokesman Onyema Nwachukwu revealed this in a statement On Wednesday.
Brigadier Nwachukwu said the operation was carried out by troops from the 33rd Artillery Regiment on Monday as part of their anti-oil theft operations in the country.
“During the crackdown, surveillance troops intercepted 15 sacks and 13 drums of illegally refined automotive diesel (AGO) hidden in the camp,” he said.
According to the military, the items recovered from the suspects were two pumping machines, three power generators, a hose and a box of tools used to hack oil pipelines.
The army spokesman said that, in response to a tip on Tuesday, troops intercepted a wooden boat loaded with 110 sacks of illegally refined AGO hidden in the streams of Egbema West in the same Ohaji/Egbema council area.
“Vigilant troops also intercepted two vehicles loaded with 18 bags of illegally refined AGO in the same area as the town hall,” he said.
Illegal Delta Oil Refinery Site
Nwachukwu said that in a similar operation on Monday, troops from the 3rd Battalion clamped down on an “active illegal refining site” in Enokora, a community in the Burutu local government area of southern Delta state. southern Nigeria.
The army spokesman said the refining site contained three kilns and tanks.
He urged Nigerians to report any suspected acts of sabotage or criminality to security agencies in order to enhance ongoing operations to curb oil theft in the country.
source of concern
Oil theft and its negative impact on the country’s economy have been a matter of concern to the Nigerian government over the years.
In August 2022, the federal government awarded a pipeline surveillance contract worth 48 billion naira per year (4 billion naira per month) to the Ekpemupolo government, popularly known as Tompolo, to control massive oil theft in the region.
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Let hear it in the comment below if you do have an opinion on this; Nigerian troops discover illegal oil bunker camps in Imo and Delta