An illegal refinery with more than 100,000 liters of crude oil has been discovered in Adobi settlement, Etche Local Government Area in Rivers State by operatives the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
A statement by NSCDC spokesperson Babawale Afolabi on Saturday in Abuja indicated that the site was uncovered by the Commandant-General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CGsSIS).
It quoted the Commander of the special squad, Mr Dandaura Appolos, as attributing the success of the operation to credible intelligence reports.
Apollos further said that the intelligence had indicated that some suspects had vandalised a multinational company’s well head.
“We value and protect our informants and the information received is always treated with caution, confidentiality and prompt alertness,” Apollos said, while thanking the informants.
He also explained that on getting to the illegal refinery site, it was discovered that the suspects had connected galvanised metal pipes with large hoses and had syphoned crude oil for local processing.
“As soon as we arrived the scene, the suspects took to their heels but we were able to arrest one 32 years old Godspower Oyibo, male, from Delta.
“He is currently assisting us with further investigation and shall be charged to court after interrogation.
“Exhibits impounded from the site include one yellow robin EY 20 pumping machine, galvanised metal pipes, long large hoses, already vandalised well heads, and stolen crude worth 100,000 litres stored in reservoirs.
“Others are calibrated surface tanks, processed AGO in cooking pots and metal buckets,” he said.
Meanwhile, the corps’ spokesperson has assured the public that the NSCDC would sustain its war against vandalism and crude oil theft across the nation.
