NSCDC Destroys Illegal Oil Bunkering Sites in Rivers

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State Command, has destroyed the operations of owners of local refineries in cutting channel one area located at Degema Local Government Area of the state.

The achievement is the NSCDC’s strategic efforts to combat the menace of illegal oil bunkering activities, vandalism of oil pipelines and illegal dealings in petroleum products in the Niger Delta region.

Speaking with journalists at the site of the incident, the spokesperson of the NSCDC Command, Olufemi Ayodele, said the Commandant-General of the Corps, Dr. Ahmed Audi, has zero tolerance for all acts of economic sabotage, hence, he directed the state Commandant, Basil Igwebueze, to step up intelligence and protection of all critical national assets and infrastructure both on land and in the waterways.

Ayodele hinted that the success of the Marine Unit, during the operation at the incident site, was hinged on credible intelligence that some suspects were carrying out illegal oil bunkering activities at cutting channel area.

He said the suspects vandalised Sahara Oil well heads and pipes, to siphon crude oil and establish a local refining site in the area.

According to the NSCDC spokesperson, “With full determination to combat the menace of illegal oil bunkering activities on the waterways, the Marine Unit swung into action by taking charge of the environment.”

“Notably, the suspects took to their heels upon sighting the marine operatives.”

Ayodele further stated that the state commandant ordered massive destruction of all materials used in carrying out the illegal oil bunkering, and more than four different refining stations have been destroyed altogether.

To ensure that the suspects do not reconstruct the local refinery, the NSCDC Marine personnel have also been directed to intensify patrol in the area.

“Our commitment to ensure that Rivers State is a safe haven for the dwellers remains firm, and most importantly our country must be salvaged from economic saboteurs, who are milking the wealth and resources of the country.

 “The Command will not relent in its collaboration with all sister security agencies to fight activities of illegal oil bunkerers in Rivers State.

“In addition, we here by appeal to the public to continue giving us actionable information that would lead to the arrests of criminal-minded persons even as we assure our informants of overall protection and secrecy of any given information,” the NSCDC spokesperson added.