Delta: Oil thieves flee as troops destroy illegal refinery

Troops from Nigeria’s 6th Division destroyed eight operational ovens used for refining stolen crude oil near Ogbokoko and Atu in Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State.

 

Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, confirmed this on Thursday in Abuja.

 

According to him, the forces also destroyed 14 reservoirs storing an estimated 200,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 90,000 litres of diesel.

 

He said that the destruction was carried out in a sweep on the area by troops conducting anti-oil theft operations.

 

Nwachukwu claimed that the oil thieves ran when they saw military approaching.

 

“The illegal refining site was destroyed in line with the existing guidelines of `Operation Delta Safe’. An 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 on-going operations to curb economic sabotage in the country,’’ Nwachukwu stated.