TheCable

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has uncovered an illegal oil refining site at Otamiri-Etche, near Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital.

Michael Ogar, the NSCDC commandant in Rivers, took journalists on a tour of the site on Thursday.

He said the illegal refinery was constructed in a sophisticated manner to avoid suspicion.

“The well-fabricated illegal refinery with a wide range of pipes spread across an expansive land mass,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“I must confess that this is my first time of witnessing such a well-fabricated illegal refinery which shows that bunkers have adopted a new strategy.

“If not for the eagle eye of the command and our sustained intelligence gathering from our informants, it would have been difficult to detect this bunkering site.

“The operators of the illegal bunkering site tapped into a pipeline belonging to Heirs Holding Oil and Gas through its pipeline bulk delivery.

“They (oil thieves) syphoned crude oil from the Heirs Holding pipeline through carefully constructed pipes into their illegal refinery.

“We have commenced intense investigation into this matter, considering that someone must have given out this expansive land to the owners of the site.”

He said the corps personnel were on the trail of the owner of the land, to unravel the identities of the operators of the refinery.

Ogar also warned operators of illegal refineries and pipeline vandals to either relocate from the state or be arrested and prosecuted.

“So, we will not be deterred by the activities of criminals. We will go after them and ensure that their illegal dealing in petroleum products is reduced drastically to boost the economy,” he said.

“So, Heirs Company will extract the stolen crude oil back to their facility while our operatives will continue to chase the criminals until they are brought to book.”