NSCDC uncovers illegal oil refineries in Rivers

In a forest in the Odagwa village of the Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, the Special Intelligence Squad of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant General has discovered a sizable illicit oil refining facility. The NSCDC reports that the location includes ten illicit refineries and around 500,000 litres of crude oil stored in roughly 50 illicitly built reservoirs. During a site raid, the security service reported that five individuals were taken into custody. 

While presenting the suspects to reporters, Olufemi Ayodele, the spokesperson for the NSCDC and Rivers State Command, revealed this. According to Ayodele, the location was found using reliable intelligence.

He stated, “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 the Etche LGA of Rivers State where five suspects were caught in the act of illegally refining 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, reservoir 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 stored in six large reservoirs and other 20 smaller reservoirs dug in the ground.”

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