In Rivers State, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) apprehended 19 suspected oil thieves.
During the last week of the operation, the operatives also seized 400 drums of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil.
The Rivers State Commandant of the NSCDC, Abu Abdu Tambuwal, said the suspects were apprehended in various parts of the state while being paraded in Port Harcourt.
Tambuwal stated that the command discovered and destroyed 53 illegal refinery sites throughout the state.
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He assured that the command is committed to bringing the war against illegal oil refining and oil theft to all parts of the state and that those arrested will be charged in court.
Tambuwal stated, “We have not limited our fight against vandalism of our natural resources to creeks alone, but have identified illegal dumps throughout the state.”
Today, the Command has destroyed numerous illegal dumps located in residential areas and along waterways. We’re back, this time with a total of 19 suspected oil thieves.
A Nissan Primera car containing suspected illegally refined AGO, three trucks and one bus, a wooden boat, over 400 drums containing suspected illegally refined AGO, and two Yamaha boat engines used in vandalism were also impounded.
In addition, as part of the measures put in place to drastically reduce, and if possible, eliminate all traces of adulterated petroleum products from moving freely in the state, illegal oil dumps where these tainted products were stored were also demolished.
On February 4, 2022, at approximately 1336hrs, nine suspected oil thieves were apprehended at an illegal oil dumpsite near a church compound in Borokiri.
“Same day at about 0215hrs along Elele-Alimini Axis Of East West Road In Lkwerre LGA of Rivers State, the Command impounded a White Color Ford Bus with registration number Abia AR183UMA loaded with an unspecified quantity of illegally refined AGO concealed in sacks,” the command said.
On February 5, 2022, at approximately I545hrs at Rumuaparaeli Waterfront in Obio-Akpor LGA, members of the Command’s Marine Patrol Team impounded a wooden boat known as a pour-through, laden with unquantified suspected illegally refined AGO Two Yamaha 40-horsepower outboard engines were discovered alongside the recovered wooden boat.”
Tambuwal applauds Governor Nyesom Wike for assisting the Corp in the fight against oil theft, and he calls for more collaboration to reduce the activities to a bare minimum.
“All of the exhibits are here at State Headquarters and at the Command’s marine exhibits yard in Ogbogoro, while the arrested suspects are currently being interrogated and will be charged in court for possible prosecution.”
