The Nigerian Army 6 Division Garrison, Port Harcourt barracks raided a hidden illegal bunkering site in Odagwe community forest, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State on Friday.
This, according to Commander, 6 Division Garrison and Sector 3, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Brigadier General Eddie Effiong who led the covert operation is a continuous onslaught against illegal oil refining in the Niger Delta region.
Effiong said the Army uncovered eight crude oil reservoirs and five boilers containing over 1 million litres of stolen crude oil in the heart of the forest.
Addressing Journalists shortly after scouting the thick forest to access the site, Effiong, explained that each of the discovered reservoirs contained nothing less than 100,000 litres of crude, adding that discovery followed a tip-off.
He said, “In continuation of the fight against crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering, we got a tip-off form our contacts that illegal oil refinery has commenced on the opposite side of this road after we destroyed them on the other side, the oil thieves have relocated here and then reestablished their illegal refineries and continue their illegal activities.
“Coming here today, we found out that they have truly relocated to the right side and reestablished their illegal refining sites and they are still trying to establish more sites.
“In this reestablished illegal refining site, we have discovered eight reservoirs and five cooking pots. And from our gathering, the minimum quantity of crude in each reservoir is nothing less than 100,000 litres of stolen crude that is about to be refined into AGO (diesel).”
Effiong assured that troops of the division would not rest on their oars until the fight against illegal oil bunkering and oil theft is won in the region.
The Garrison Commander noted that the division would also deploy the non-kinetic approach of tackling the menace by advising the oil thieves to stop what they are doing, adding that the division would continue dialogue with the people and appeal to the consciences of community heads and youth leaders through regular seminars.
“We are also trying our best to discourage them through their village heads and youth leaders, talking to them.
“We all know what crude oil is to the Nigerian economy. Everyone in the country is feeling the impact of the economy presently, and the more they do this, it is also going to negatively impact all of us.”
Brigadier General Effiong advised all those involved in oil bunkering activities within the state and Niger Delta region to repent and look for better means of making money.
“Yes, things are hard but that shouldn’t push us into criminality, because our country is bleeding and if we keep doing this, we will keep bleeding the more and everybody will feel it.”
