The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has uncovered an illegal refinery site in Odagwa Forest, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
It also arrested five suspects while raiding the site in the early hours of Monday.
The suspects and others who are currently at large specialize in vandalizing a wellhead belonging to an oil production company that is a few meters away from the site.
While conducting journalists around the thick forest, the NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Rivers State Command, Olufemi Ayodele, explained that the site was uncovered by the Commandant General Anti Vandal Team through credible intelligence.
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He said after making illegal connections to the vandalized wellhead, the suspects siphon crude oil into already built holding wells from where they channel the crude to the various illegal refining pots in the site.
According to the NSCDC PRO, though the siphoned crude oil cannot be quantified, some of the illegal refining pots are capable of producing 60,000 litres per day.
”We conducted this operation without compromise. Like I said earlier, the NSCDC will not stop in its fight against crude oil theft across the nation. This is a major achievement. You can see how big this tank is, this is not the end, we are still moving ahead to another area where the operation continues,” he said.
“You have visibly seen five cooking pots for now. Each of the cooking pots is capable of producing 60,000 litres while that larger one can produce 120,000 litres.”
With seven illegal refining pots and over four craftily constructed crude oil holding wells, the NSCDC Rivers spokesman said the discovery of the site is an appreciable feat in the Command’s fight against illegal refining and crude oil theft in Rivers State.
The CG Anti Vandal Unit is expected to destroy the site and confiscate the petroleum products while the suspects will be charged in court.
See more photos of the illegal refining site below:
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