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The Special Intelligence Squad of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant General has successfully shut down an illegal refining site in Adobe settlement, Etche Local Government Area, Rivers State.
The site contained more than 100,000 litres of stolen crude oil.
Dandaura Appolos, the Commander of the CG’s SIS, stated that the operation was based on credible intelligence indicating that suspects had vandalized a wellhead belonging to a multinational company.
The suspects had connected galvanized metal pipes with large hoses to siphon and process the crude oil locally.
NSCDC Spokesman Babawale Afolabi, in a statement on Saturday, revealed that the SIS promptly acted on the information and discovered several other sites where significant illegal refining activities were taking place.
"We always treat the information received with caution and prompt alertness, just as we value and protect our informants. Upon our arrival, the suspect fled, but we managed to apprehend Godspower Oyibo (M), 32 years old, from Delta State, who is now cooperating with us in further investigation.
At the crime scene, we found reservoirs cemented with trampoline containing approximately 100,000 litres of crude oil.
The following items were discovered: a yellow Robin EY 20 pumping machine, galvanized metal pipes, long large hoses, a vandalized wellhead, stolen crude oil worth 100,000 litres stored in reservoirs, calibrated surface tanks, processed AGO in cooking pots, and metal buckets," he was quoted as saying.
