LAGOS JULY 3RD (URHOBOTODAY)-The Nigerian Army 3rd Battalion has discovered stolen petroleum products hidden in ancestral shrine in Egbokoda community, Warri South LGA, Delta State.
The Commander of the 3 Battalion Army, Effurun, Delta State, Lt. Col Ifeanyi Otu who disovered the stolen oil products after overcoming resistance of the youths in the community has warned community leaders against allowing the use of their ancestral shrines as hideouts and warehouses for the storage of stolen petroleum products.
Otu, who said that such practices do not only desecrate the supposed Holy ground, but was unacceptable, adding that such shrines when discovered would be burnt down and the traditional/political leaders brought to book.
He spoke at the shrine housing the Egbokodo Community deities in Warri South Local Government Area, during a raid on suspected illegal oil refineries.
Twelve large Cotonou boats and 100 by 250 litres drums loaded with suspected crude and locally refined products were destroyed during the raid.
Col. Otu who also stormed the Shaguolor illegal oil market depot less than 100 metres away from the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company/Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, WRPC/PPMC, also destroyed large number of illegal refineries.
Earlier, the Egbokodo Youth Chairman, who after some resistance led the soldiers into the community shrine told the Army Commander of efforts made to stop the illegal oil activities in the area.