NSCDC Eliminates Over 600,000 Litres of Illegal Crude Oil, Arrests 51 Suspects
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has announced the destruction of over 600,000 litres of illegal crude oil products in various operations across the country since January 2024. This information was released by the NSCDC’s media office, detailing their activities over the past six months.
During these operations, 51 individuals were arrested for various crimes. The NSCDC highlighted organizational changes implemented by Commandant General Ahmed Abubakar Audi, including the establishment of the CG Special Intelligence Squad (SIS). This squad, led by DCC Dandaura Appollos, focuses on combating illegal bunkering, kidnapping, banditry, and armed robbery.
In an operation on March 25, the NSCDC destroyed six illegal refineries containing approximately 500,000 litres of illicit crude oil, resulting in five arrests and the seizure of locally fabricated ovens in Odagwa, Etche LGA, Rivers State.
On March 28, operatives apprehended a suspect and dismantled a long pour-put boat with over 20,000 litres of suspected adulterated AGO, along with several surface tanks, drums, and galvanized pipes at Ubeaku waterside, Abia State. Another operation on March 29 in Inhandu, Ukwa East, Abia State, led to the discovery of an illegal bunkering site and the destruction of over 9,000 litres of suspected AGO.
Further operations revealed numerous illegal tapping points on oil trunk lines, large illegal refinery sites, and locally fabricated storage reservoirs containing over 95,000 litres of illegally refined AGO in Otulu, Egbema West, Imo State, on April 2. Additional discoveries were made at Obiafu-Obrikom gas pipeline near Omuku, Rivers State, on April 3, and at Adobi forest in Odagwa, Etche LGA, Rivers State, on April 5, where a large quantity of stolen crude oil was destroyed.
In other crime-related activities, officers arrested Abdullahi Ibrahim, a logistics supplier to criminal elements, in Kachia LGA, Kaduna State, on January 29. Three suspects were detained on February 10 in Keffi, Nasarawa State, after intercepting a container truck. On February 14-15, ten suspects were arrested and four trucks loaded with railway tracks and sleepers were seized along the Kagarko-Jere road, Kaduna State, and Keffi-Abuja Expressway. Lastly, on February 20, four suspects were arrested with a truckload of railway tracks near African Natural Resources and Steel Limited, Gujjeni, Kaduna State.
