The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad has discovered an illegal oil refining site in a forest in Odagwa Community, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
During the operation, over 10 illegal refineries housing an estimated 500,000 litres of crude oil stored across approximately 50 illegally constructed reservoirs were discovered.
Five suspects involved in the illicit activity were also apprehended. Their names are Favour Chukwu (29), Desmond Umeh (25), Godwin Amos (22), Bineace Galion (38), and Goodnews David (23).
Spokesperson for the NSCDC Rivers State Command, Olufemi Ayodele, revealed these findings while presenting the suspects to the public, and leading journalists on a site tour on Monday, March 26.
Ayodele stated that the discovery was made possible through credible intelligence, emphasising the NSCDC’s commitment to combating economic sabotage, adding that Dr. Ahmed Audi, the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, had instructed the Special Intelligence Squad to intensify efforts in their operations.
His words:
“The Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Audi, has reiterated over time that all acts of economic sabotage would be fought to a standstill as suspects arrested would face the full wrath of the law, irrespective of their sponsors.
“In furtherance, the CG gave a marching order to the Special Intelligence Squad, charging them to be more thorough and results-oriented in their operations
“Based on credible intelligence, the CG’s SIS swung into action and uncovered 10 illegal local refineries in a forest located at Odagwa Community in Etche LGA of Rivers State where five suspects were caught in the act of illegally refining of crude oil.
“While conducting an operational tour across the large thick forest, about 10 different cooking pots of 50,000 litres capacity were seen with one big pumping machine, receiver tanks, 25 rubber hoses used for pumping crude oil and many long galvanised pipes with unquantified litres of crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) stored in six large reservoirs and other 20 smaller reservoirs drugged in the ground.”
Commandant of the NSCDC Rivers State Command, Basil Igwebueze condemned the the act by the vandals, adding that the illegal site would be destroyed to discourage perpetrators from continuing the illicit business.
He affirmed the NSCDC’s commitment to combating crude oil theft while collaborating closely with other security agencies to protect the nation’s economy from sabotage.
The Commandant disclosed that a comprehensive investigation has been initiated to uncover the masterminds behind this illegal activity.
All suspects apprehended in connection with vandalism and crude oil theft will face charges in a court of law, and their sponsors or criminal networks will be pursued and held accountable without any compromise, he said.