By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The General Officer Commanding Office (GOC), Nigerian Army/ Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, Operation DELTA SAFE, Major General Jamal Abdusalam, has warned oil thieves to turn a new leaf and embrace legitimate businesses or face the full wrath of the law.
The GOC gave the warning after troops of 6 Division successfully busted a carefully concealed illegal oil bunkering site at Umuedeokwara Community, Odogwa Town in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Speaking to journalists at the site, the GOC said the operation followed credible intelligence on the activities of criminals in the area, and expressed amazement at the level of criminality at the site.
“We are here to let Nigerians know what is happening here. In fact, even if you use the air, using a helicopter or drone, you won’t be able to see what we saw on the ground”, he said.
The GOC commented on the vast irregularities on the site, noting the reservoirs and boilers with a network of pipes and cables, amongst others.
”The crude oil discovered in the site was unprecedented”, he remarked.
He said further that the Division will ensure that the Federal Government gets what is due to it to take care of the citizens, reiterating that the budget of the nation is dependent on many factors, including crude oil production, “hence, any drop in production affects the economy of the nation”.
The GOC, who affirmed that a total of 19 reservoirs, with each containing a minimum of 200,000 liters of crude, translating to over 3,000,000 liters were discovered, lamented the level at which individuals get involved in crimes that have huge implications for the national economy.
He added that the Division will continue to deny criminals freedom of action.
The clearance operation led to the arrest of six suspects on the site, as efforts are ongoing to apprehend the rest of the perpetrators.
The GOC said the site will be destroyed in collaboration with relevant agencies.
