The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested three suspects in Rivers State over illegal oil activities. This was conveyed through a statement by NSCDC Spokesperson Babawale Afolabi on Monday in Abuja.
The arrests, carried out by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CGSIS), were made following intelligence tips about ongoing illicit operations in the region.
According to Afolabi, the illegal bunkering activities site was located at Nembe/Odagwa Creek in Etche LGA. Upon the arrival of NSCDC operatives, some suspects fled the scene, but the corps managed to apprehend three individuals.
Afolabi said the suspects were caught refining stolen crude oil from vandalised healthy heads. The site featured well-constructed illegal refineries with ovens capable of producing 60,000 litres of crude oil simultaneously.
They were caught illegally refining stolen crude extracted from a vandalised oil wellhead. In addition, there was the discovery of well-constructed illegal refineries where crude is being syphoned through vandalised well heads with large hoses connected to transmit crude to cooking ovens. The ovens can produce 60,000 litres of crude at once, Afolabi said.
The NSCDC recovered various equipment from the site, including generator sets, pumping machines, metal and plastic buckets, cutlasses, saws, welding machines, and heavy-duty hoses. The Corps also stated that it is conducting thorough investigations to identify the sponsors behind these illegal activities and determine the level of involvement of each suspect.
At the end of our thorough investigation, the suspects will be charged to court to serve as deterrents to others, Afolabi stated.
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