NSCDC Uncovers Massive Illegal Refinery in Rivers, Nabs Suspects
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NSCDC Uncovers Massive Illegal Refinery in Rivers, Nabs Suspects
By Roselyn James
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has uncovered a massive illegal refinery along the forest border between Rivers State and Abia State and arrested nine alleged oil thieves in the area.
This information was released on Monday in Abuja by Babawale Afolabi, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the NSCDC.
According to Afolabi, the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CGsSIS) installed intelligence surveillance at the location, facilitating the discovery and the successful arrest.
The detained individuals were found processing stolen crude oil from a destroyed wellhead, discovering a nearby refinery with a 60,000-liter capacity still under development.
“We observed enormous hoses and galvanized metal pipes laid to transfer stolen crude across the processing channels, clearly visible at the massive illegal bunkering,” he stated.
He claims that the following suspects have been taken into custody: Oghene Wede (M), 32 years old; Moses James (M); Chidi Nwosu (M); 53 years old; and Samuel John (M), 24 years old.
The others are 20-year-old Emmanuel Paul (M), 43-year-old Oghenevo Nwebi (M), 38-year-old Martina Whinnypeter (F), 41-year-old Nwabuchi Nwogu (M), and 20-year-old David Okere (M).
The spokesperson mentioned that the suspects are currently being questioned, and further investigation has begun. Once the investigation is complete, the suspects will face charges in court.
Afolabi also noted that the site contained thirty pits excavated to hold processed AGO, four manufactured reservoirs, and more than fifteen modular ovens.
“The exhibits that were found included an RWD 5.0 GFE-6500 power generating set, two yellow-colored pumping machines, buckets made of both plastic and metal, cutlasses, saws, mats, welding machines, galvanized metal pipes, various heavy-duty hoses, and automotive gas oil (AGO) that was processed illegally in cooking ovens,” Afolabi stated.
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