The Nigerian Army has made a significant breakthrough in the fight against illegal oil refining, with the arrest of six laborers operating an illicit refinery in Rivers State. This clandestine operation had the potential to produce an estimated three million liters of substandard petroleum products in a matter of weeks.

Leading the charge, Maj.-Gen. Jamaal Abdussalam, the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 6 Division, Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt, unveiled the intricate network of illegal activities thriving in the Odagwa community of Etche Local Government Area.

The discovery, made possible through credible intelligence, exposed an expansive illegal refining site spanning 40 plots of land. The site was strategically camouflaged beneath dense forest cover, eluding aerial surveillance.

Exposed during the raid were over 14 reservoirs, each capable of storing more than 200,000 liters of stolen crude oil, alongside 49 boilers for processing crude oil. The scale of the operation was staggering, exceeding the daily crude oil export of Nigeria.

Furthermore, the illegal refinery was found to be siphoning crude oil from wellheads at the Imo River 2 Oil and Gas Oil field. This revelation underscores the profound impact of crude oil theft on the nation’s economy and the livelihoods of its citizens.

In a bid to stem the tide of illegal bunkering activities in the Niger Delta, Maj.-Gen. Jamaal Abdussalam emphasized the dismantling of the illegal site. While acknowledging the arrest of the laborers, he underscored the pursuit of the masterminds behind the lucrative criminal enterprise, reiterating the army’s unwavering commitment to curbing illegal bunkering.

The general’s stern warning to perpetrators of illegal bunkering serves as a clear directive to cease such criminal activities and embrace legitimate livelihoods. As the nation’s budget heavily relies on proceeds from crude oil production, the detrimental impact of these illicit activities cannot be overstated.

This resolute action by the Nigerian Army reflects a pivotal step in safeguarding the nation’s resources and economic prosperity, underscoring the imperative of upholding law and order in the vital oil sector.