TheCable

The Rivers state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has apprehended five suspected oil thieves for allegedly siphoning 500,000 litres of crude oil from pipelines.

In a statement, Olufemi Ayodele, NSCDC spokesperson in the state, described the activities of oil thieves as ”unscrupulous and condemnable”.

He said the breakthrough occurred during a raid on 10 illegal bunkering sites at Odagwa, Etche LGA of 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,” he said.

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

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

The spokesperson said 10 cooking pots, a pumping machine, receiver tanks, 25 rubber hoses and several lengths of galvanised pipes, were recovered from the sites.

He added that the pipes, containing unspecified quantity of crude oil and adulterated diesel, were linked to six large reservoirs and 20 smaller reservoirs buried underground.

He said the NSCDC will continue to battle crude oil theft and illegal mining across the country.