Troops of Operation Delta Safe have destroyed an illegal refinery site in the general area of Ogbokoko and Atu in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Director of Army Public Relations Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, announced this in a statement on Thursday and added that the development came as a result of the troops having access to useful intelligence.
The statement revealed that the operation took place on Wednesday as part of the ongoing war against oil theft in the South-South.
According to him, approximately eight active ovens that were being used to illegally refine stolen crude oil were reportedly destroyed by the troops during the operation.
He said not less than 14 storage reservoirs containing 200,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 90,000 litres of locally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were also destroyed.
“The oil thieves fled the scene, on sighting the advancement of troops. The Illegal refining site was destroyed in situ in line with the extant guidelines of Operation Delta Safe. Investigation is ongoing to arrest the fleeing criminals,” the statement added.
He explained that the illegal refining site was destroyed in situ in line with extant guidelines of Operation Delta Safe and investigations are ongoing to arrest the fleeing criminals. The Nigerian Army is urging the public to report any suspected act of sabotage or criminality to security agencies.
