OPERATIVES OF 6 DIVISION NIGERIAN ARMY UNCOVER FARMLAND WITH OVER FORTY OIL WELLS
BY GABRIEL OKECHUKWU, FRCN PORT HARCOURT
Operatives of 5 Division Nigerian Army has uncovered a vast farmland where kindreds dig well-like bunker to access crude oil direct at Rumuekpe, Emohua Local Government Area Rivers State.
The General Officer Commanding Six Division Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam who took journalists round the site said that over forty of the wells were discovered in the area.
In what appeared to be a new dimension in crude oil theft, the discovery of the farmland with several wells containing crude oil beats the imagination of many.
The vast farmland has several wells owned by different kindreds in the community who hire diggers to dig deep under the ground for up to fifteen feet deep to have direct access to crude oil without contact with any pipeline.
The perpetrators having access to the crude then fetched crude oil as water into different containers and padded nylon bags.
Reacting to the development, the General Officer Commanding Six Division Nigerian Army Port Harcourt, Major General Jamal Abdussalam who expressed shock over the new trend, revealed that the site was busted by troops policing Trans. Niger Pipeline.
Major General Abdussalam who was pleased over the discovery described it as one of the gains of renewed efforts towards elimination of crude oil theft in Niger Delta region.
Major General Abdussalam who is also the Land component Commander South South Operation Delta safe warned that no perpetrator would be spared adding, that the area has been cuddoned off as soldiers keep watch.
He told journalists that some suspects were arrested at the site.
Narrating his odeal, one of the suspects, Mr. Johnson Michael explained that about three men were engaged to dig each of the wells at the cost of forty thousand Naira.
He explained that the digging would continue till it gets contact with crude after gracious emissions.
Mr. Michael admitted that it was a risky job that can lead to death.
