The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army/Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, South South, Operation DELTA SAFE, Major General Jamal Abdussalamhas reiterated his warning to vandals and economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta Region (NDR) to refrain from engaging in illegal oil bunkering and instead, pursue lawful ventures.
In the ongoing intensified crackdown on various criminal activities in waterways, creeks, and rivulets within the Niger Delta Region (NDR), Major General Jamal Abdussalam, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army/Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, South South, Operation DELTA SAFE, issued a renewed warning.
Leading an operation against vandals and economic saboteurs, the GOC orchestrated raids on multiple illegal oil bunkering sites at Obama and Uzoma in the Kom-Kom Community, Oyingbo Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State on January 31, 2024.
During the press briefing at the sites, the GOC emphasized the troops’ commitment to continuously thwarting criminal activities in the region. He disclosed that during the raid on January 31, 2024, the troops discovered more than 15 boilers, 9 reservoirs, extensive interconnected pipes, and various other items indicative of organized large-scale criminal operations.
The stolen crude oil amassed for processing was estimated to be over 5 million liters. Additionally, numerous large Cotonou Boats, capable of transporting over 200,000 liters of crude oil, were intercepted on the way to the location.
Major General Abdussalam further called on the perpetrators of these criminal acts to shun illegal oil bunkering, as it is illegal, criminal, and dirty.
He called on them to embrace legitimate means of businesses and allow the government to do what is supposed to do. “We can see the facilities here. It is not something that ordinary people can set up. It needs money, expertise, and careful planning.” he said.
The GOC further said “So it is beyond the people we arrest. We are following several leads, and we are hoping that those leads will take us to those who are actually responsible. “This activity is illegal, criminal, and dirty. We call on people to embrace legitimate businesses,” he said.
The offensive against economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta Region (NDR) is directly linked to the determination of the Land Component, Operation DELTA SAFE, to eliminate illegal economic hubs and their operators in the area.
This crackdown follows closely on the heels of the Division’s recent destruction of extensive illegal bunkering sites at Odogwa in Etche LGA.
