Rivers: NSCDC nabs 5 for stealing 500,000 litres of crude oil

Five accused oil thieves have been detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Rivers State Command, for allegedly stealing 500,000 litres of crude oil from pipelines in Rivers.

This declaration was given to reporters in Port Harcourt by SC Olufemi Ayodele, the state spokesperson for the NSCDC.

He revealed that the breakthrough came during a triumphant operation against ten illicit bunkering sites located in the Odagwa community in Etche, Rivers.

”The estimated 500,000 litres of crude oil were stored in about 50 illegally constructed reservoirs which were found in about 10 illegal refineries.

”The discovery resulted from credible intelligence that prompted our special intelligence squad to take action and uncovered 10 illegal refineries in Odawa forest.

”Five suspects were caught in the act of illegally refining crude oil within the illegal bunkering sites,” he said.

He stated that many lengths of galvanised pipes, receiver tanks, a pumping equipment, ten cooking pots, and twenty-five rubber hoses were found at the locations.

He said that the pipelines were connected to six huge subterranean reservoirs and twenty smaller underground reservoirs, each holding an unknown amount of crude oil and tainted diesel.

The spokesperson called the actions of the state's oil thieves dishonest and morally reprehensible.

Ayodele declared that in order to successfully combat the threat of oil theft in the state, the command will keep up close cooperation with other security agencies.

In a related report, no fewer than two persons have been apprehended by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Katsina State for their alleged involvement in vandalizing electricity cables. 

DSC Buhari Hamisu, the corps' public relations officer, revealed the arrests in Katsina on Tuesday. 

According to Hamisu, the suspects, whose identities have been withheld, were captured by corps operatives on March 19 at Kusa junction along Jibia road. 

The NSCDC recovered 25 pieces of vandalized aluminum electricity conductor from the suspects.

“Based on credible intelligence, the special anti-vandal unit attached to Sabon Gida Division successfully apprehended two suspects who specialised in vandalising electricity wire and theft,” he said. 

According to him, preliminary investigation reveals that the suspects vandalised KEDCO aluminium wire and sold it to their accomplice, now at large.

He said the suspects would be charged to court on completion of the investigation.