THE Nigerian Army uncovered more than 40 illicit crude oil wells in the Rumuekpe community, located in the Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.
This discovery was made during an operation led by Major General Jamal Abdusallam, the General Officer Commanding the Nigerian Army 6 Division.
Following the operation, Major General Abdusallam told newsmen that the illegal oil wells, which are about 40 feet deep, indicate a new strategy used by criminals to extract crude oil from underground reservoirs.
He underscored the importance of this finding in combating oil theft and illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta region.
The General expressed concern about the environmental and personal risks posed by the criminals’ method of digging deep into the ground to access crude oil directly. He mentioned plans to inform the relevant authorities and deploy troops to prevent further exploitation of the area.
Several suspects were captured at the scene of the crime and are presently in military custody for further investigation.
One suspect, speaking anonymously, admitted that the wells belonged to some families within the community.
The suspect detailed the dangers associated with the excavation process, such as gas exposure and suffocation.
Additionally, the suspect disclosed that individuals involved in the operation were paid approximately N40,000 to dig a well, highlighting the communal ownership of the resource and the hazardous nature of their activities.
