The Nigerian Army, as part of its ongoing efforts to curb illegal activities and protect the nation’s resources, has been actively involved in Operation UDOKA. On Friday evening, the operation led to the destruction of 14 boats and several drums of crude oil that were recovered from oil bunkerers at Isimini Waterside, located in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.
The operation was personally led by Major General Hassan Dada, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army in Enugu. Major General Dada, who spearheaded the mission near an oil flow station in the area, revealed that the troops had been acting on intelligence reports. They laid siege on the bunkerers for a period of five days before finally catching up with them and executing the operation successfully.
During the operation, six suspects were apprehended. These individuals were subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) for further interrogation and prosecution. The GOC, accompanied by Brigadier General Olusola Diya, the Brigade Commander in charge of the 14 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Ohafia, addressed newsmen at the creek. He provided detailed information about the operation and the seized items. Among the seized boats, eight were identified as large Cotonu boats, while the remaining were smaller vessels.
Major General Dada explained that the bunkerers employed sophisticated equipment to rupture oil pipelines in the area. They would then steal the crude oil, some of which they refined locally, while the rest was transported to the high seas and sold at extremely low prices to the enemies of the country. This illegal activity not only sabotaged the economy but also posed a significant threat to national security.
The GOC emphasized that the leader of the cartel had been identified, although he was currently on the run. He vowed that no economic saboteur would be allowed to operate within the operational areas of Operation UDOKA. According to Major General Dada, the proceeds from the stolen crude oil were being used to finance terrorism, further exacerbating the security challenges faced by the nation.
In a stern warning, Major General Dada urged all those involved in the illicit act to desist immediately or face the full wrath of the military. He stated, “This is just the beginning of the operation, and we will make sure no stone is left unturned. Anybody found culpable will be dealt with. It’s high time they left this joint operation area because we won’t spare them. Nobody should be involved in any form of economic sabotage within Operation UDOKA joint operation area.”
He reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Army to ensuring that no form of economic sabotage occurs within their joint operational area. “We are here to ensure that no form of economic sabotage occurs in our joint operational area. We have been here conducting operations against economic saboteurs trying to take crude oil, which is the mainstay of our economy,” he said.
Major General Dada provided further details about the operation, stating, “Based on intelligence, we waited for them here for five days until yesterday (Thursday) when they came to get crude oil from the pipeline, then we moved in and recovered 14 boats, some with crude oil. They sank some of the boats, and that is why, if you look very well, you will see oil floating there on the water. But any moment from now, we are going to destroy the boats in line with the standing operational procedure.”
He assured that the Nigerian Army would get to the root of the matter and apprehend the leader of the cartel. “We are going to get to the root of the matter. We know the person in charge of this location, and he is on the run, but definitely, we will get him,” he said.
Major General Dada made it clear that the Nigerian Army would not tolerate any form of sabotage to the country’s economy. He described the bunkerers as part of a larger cartel involving many unscrupulous individuals. “The Nigerian Army will not in any way tolerate any form of sabotage to the economy of this country. They are more of a cartel, and a lot of scrupulous people are actually involved,” he stated.
He further explained the detrimental impact of the bunkerers’ activities, saying, “They take the stolen oil to the high sea and sell to the enemies of the country at ridiculous prices; some they refine into products which are substandard and cause damage to vehicles.”
The operation at Isimini Waterside is part of a broader effort by the Nigerian Army to combat illegal oil bunkering and protect the nation’s resources. The destruction of the boats and the apprehension of the suspects send a strong message to those involved in such activities that the Nigerian Army is committed to safeguarding the country’s economic interests and ensuring national security.
In conclusion, Major General Dada reiterated the Nigerian Army’s resolve to continue its operations against economic saboteurs and protect the nation’s resources. He called on all stakeholders to support the efforts of the military in curbing illegal activities and ensuring the stability and security of the country.
