The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has made a significant discovery in Rivers State, uncovering cemeteries that have been converted into illegal oil refining sites.
The shocking finding reveals that these sacred spaces have been hijacked by oil thieves, who have been using them to carry out large-scale illegal refining operations.
The NSCDC said the illegal crude oil refining operation was in a cemetery situated between Abalama and Oproama Communities in Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State
Having vowed to take swift action to shut down these illegal activities and bring those responsible to justice, the NSCDC team dismantled the illegal refining equipment and disrupted the activities of the unscrupulous individuals involved in the illicit trade.
The Marine Anti-Vandal Squad, and the Command Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Olufemi Ayodele, who briefed newsmen said the operation was a 4-hour operational tour on the water.
He noted that the discovery of the illegal bunkering site is attributed to credible and sustained intelligence, which led to a successful raid and dismantling of the illegal operation.
He also emphasised the importance of intelligence gathering in the fight against illegal activities.
He said: “Recall that the NSCDC Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi gave a marching order to all formations in the Niger Delta to step up their Intelligence and Operational efficiency; acting on this directive the Rivers State Commandant Basil Igwebueze deployed the Marine Antivandal Squad to the crime scene where several boats filled with crude oil and refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were sighted
“This is Abalama community and behind us is Oproama community as well where Cemeteries were converted to illegal bunkering sites; Upon our arrival, the Suspects took to their heels knowing the Squad had superior firepower; the NSCDC as an environmentally friendly agency outrightly condemned all acts of environmental pollution, degradation of the aquatic life and economic sabotage
“We have contacted some good people in the two communities and they are cooperating with us so that the perpetrators would be apprehended in due course.
“However, the quantities in litres of the locally refined AGO cannot be ascertained”.
As a result, the State Command Commandant, Basil Igwebueze has issued a strong warning to vandals and illegal bunkers operating in the State, emphasising that the battle against oil theft is a continuous and uncompromising campaign.
The commandant vowed that individuals arrested in connection with these crimes, along with their accomplices and sponsors, would face the full force of the law and suffer the consequences of their actions.