Five members of the same family have been arrested by the Rivers state police command alongside 13 others, for allegedly operating an illegal refinery in the South-South state.
The family members were nabbed in a remote community of Mgbu-Atafia in Emohua Local Government Area “for providing their land to persons for use in illegal oil refining and bunkering activities.”
The other suspects were arrested for operating an artisanal refining site and taking part in the haulage of finished products within the state.
Two tankers and two large trucks used for the illegal storage and transportation of suspected illegally refined petroleum products were also impounded by the police.
The state Commissioner of Police, Eboka Friday who paraded the suspects warned residents against getting involved in such economic sabotage as they risk getting arrested and prosecuted.
