Port Harcourt, Rivers State – The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has dismantled a large illegal refinery operation in the Odagwa community, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, arresting three suspects.
The operation, which lasted several hours, led operatives to a forest site where crude oil was being siphoned after criminals damaged a multinational oil company's manifold. Basil Igwebueze, the NSCDC Commandant for Rivers State, announced the successful operation on Monday in Port Harcourt. Represented by the corps’ spokesperson, SP Olufemi Ayodele, Igwebueze revealed that the Special Intelligence Squad (SIS) under the NSCDC Commandant-General, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar, conducted the operation.
Igwebueze stressed the importance of enhancing operational and intelligence mechanisms to protect national assets and infrastructure. He highlighted the Commandant-General’s dedication to combating illegal petroleum activities, oil theft, and economic sabotage. The SIS has dismantled over 350 illegal bunkering sites in the Niger Delta and arrested numerous suspects.
During the recent operation, three suspects were apprehended, while others fled into the forest. The criminals had breached a multinational company’s manifold, using industrial hoses and pipes to siphon and refine crude oil.
Igwebueze addressed the environmental and health hazards posed by these illegal activities, urging collective efforts to eradicate them. He reiterated the NSCDC's commitment to fighting oil theft and safeguarding national assets, emphasizing the need for relentless and uncompromising action.
