The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region said It has uncovered more than fifty illegal crude oil refining sites in the Biseni area of Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
JTF Commander John Okeke, who led the operation on Sunday, said illegal refining of stolen crude oil was taking place at each site.
While he said no arrests were made, he called on conscientious individuals in the area to provide valuable information to assist in curbing the illegal activity, emphasising that the Joint Task Force (JTF) cannot tackle the issue alone.
He said, “Today, as I said, we are not going to relent, it is a work in progress. We will not get tired; we will continue. We are in Biseni in Yenagoa LGA of Bayelsa.
“We transverse from Ahoada West LGA of Rivers to reach this point; the most surprising thing is that this place we are now is housing over 50 cooking sites with unique arrangements.”
A large open pit was also discovered, which the oil thieves had dug to accommodate over 10 trucks of Alternative Gas Oil. Thepit is suspected of storing stolen crude oil before being distributed to their refining sites.
