In a never-ending effort to combat illegal activities in the Niger Delta Region (NDR), Major General Jamal Abdussalam, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, and Land Component Commander of Joint Task Force, South South, Operation DELTA SAFE, has issued a stern warning to vandals and economic saboteurs engaged in illegal oil bunkering.
According to Acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations Lieut. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, the GOC underlined the importance of individuals pursuing lawful ways of living instead.
This cautionary statement comes as part of an intensified crackdown on criminal activities within the waterways, creeks, and rivulets of the Niger Delta Region.
Major General Abdussalam personally spearheaded an operation against vandals and economic saboteurs, leading to the raid of several illegal oil bunkering sites in Obama and Uzoma, located in the Kom-Kom Community at Oyingbo Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State, on January 31, 2024.
During the operation, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) emphasized the dedication of troops under the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, to curbing the freedom of action for criminals in the region.
Substantial evidence of organized large-scale criminality was uncovered during the raid, including over 15 boilers, 9 reservoirs, extensive interconnected pipes, and other equipment used in the illegal activities.
The seized crude oil amounted to over 5 million liters, and numerous large Cotonou Boats, capable of transporting more than 200,000 liters of crude oil, were intercepted en route to the location.
Major General Abdussalam urged individuals involved in these criminal acts to cease illegal oil bunkering, highlighting its illegality and the environmental harm it causes. He encouraged them to pursue lawful business ventures, noting the substantial financial investment, expertise, and planning required for the facilities used in these illegal operations.
Addressing the press, the GOC stressed that the ongoing crackdown targeted not only those apprehended but also those orchestrating such illegal activities, aiming to hold them accountable. He reiterated the criminal nature of the enterprise and urged individuals to contribute to the region’s development by engaging in lawful businesses.
This operation against economic vandals is in line with the commitment of the Land Component of Operation DELTA SAFE to dismantle illegal economic hubs and target their associated merchants in the Niger Delta Region.
The recent operation closely follows the destruction of large-scale illegal bunkering sites at Odogwa in Etche LGA, highlighting the military’s steadfast commitment to upholding law and order in the region.
