The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Corps (NSCDC) has dismantled an illegal refining site and recovered over 100,000 liters of stolen crude oil in Adobi settlement, Etche Local Government, Rivers State.
The NSCDC spokesman, CSC Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this on Saturday.
The operation was carried out by the NSCDC Commandant-General’s special intelligence squad acting on a tip-off.
“Our information indicated that some suspects had vandalized a well head belonging to a multinational company, connecting galvanized metal pipes and large hoses to syphon crude oil and process it locally,” said Afolabi.
He added, “Just as we value and protect our informants, the information received are always treated with caution and prompt alertness; as soon as we arrived the suspect took to their heels but we were able to arrest one Godspower Oyibo (M) 32 years from Delta State who is now assisting us with further investigation.
“On the crime scene there were reservoirs cemented with trampoline and filled with approximately 100,000 litres of crude oil. While the following exhibits were sighted: A Yellow Colour Robin EY 20 Pumping Machine, Galvanized metal pipes, long large hoses, Already Vandalized Well head, stolen crude worth 100,000 litres stored in reservoirs, calibrated surface tanks, processed AGO in cooking pots and metal buckets”.
The corps further noted that its Rivers State Commandant, Basil Igwebueze, has been fully briefed on the development.
It assured the public of the agency’s commitment to combating vandalism and crude oil theft nationwide.