April 3, 2024

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has dismantled an illegal oil bunkering site at Inhandu Community of Ukwa East Local Government Area in Abia State.

The Corps Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Mr Babawale Afolabi made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Afolabi said that a large local pour-put boat for conveying locally refined petroleum products and a loading point were dismantled, with 9000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) seized.

He said that the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CGs SIS) carried out the operation following credible intelligence, and remained determined to salvage the nation from economic saboteurs.

“The team swung into action without wasting time and was able to uncover a bunkering site where local refining of petroleum products had been carried out over a long period.

“However, about two large wooden pour-put boats were seen at the river bank and some cellophane bags were loaded in fibre boats, but at the mere sighting of our operatives; the perpetrators took to their heels.

“While touring the site, some bags of AGO were also discovered in an uncompleted building while some others were loaded inside three different vehicles ready for supply,” he said.

Afolabi listed some of the exhibits recovered at the crime scene as two fibre boats with 40 horsepower Yamaha engines, two empty J5 buses and one Sequoia jeep about to be loaded.

“Other exhibits included two large wooden boats still under construction and some quantities of AGO concealed in cellophane bags,” he said.

The CPRO said that the Intelligence and Investigation department had commenced detailed work to unravel the perpetrators and beneficiaries.

He added that an application for forfeiture of products and mode of conveyance would be sought at the law court at the expiration of investigation.

“We enjoin the public to cooperate with the NSCDC in the fight against crude oil theft to rid our economy of saboteurs,” he said.