An illegal refining site containing over 100,000 liters of stolen crude oil has been dismantled by the Special Intelligence Squad of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant General in Adobi settlement, Etche Local Government Area, Rivers State.

According to the PUNCH, this development was disclosed by the NSCDC spokesman, Babawale Afolabi, in a statement on Saturday who stated that the commander of the squad, Dandaura Appolos, predicated the success on credible intelligence, indicating that suspects had vandalized a multinational company’s wellhead.

The suspects had connected galvanized metal pipes with large hoses to siphon and locally process the crude oil.

Afolabi said the SIS promptly acted on the information, uncovering several sites where significant illegal refining activities occurred.

“Just as we value and protect our informants, the information received is always treated with caution and prompt alertness. As soon as we arrived, the suspect took to their heels, but we were able to arrest one Godspower Oyibo (M), 32 years old, from Delta State, who is now assisting us with further investigation.

“On the crime scene, there were reservoirs cemented with trampoline and filled with approximately 100,000 litres of crude oil. The following exhibits were sighted: a yellow-colored Robin EY 20 pumping machine, galvanized metal pipes, long large hoses, an already vandalized wellhead, stolen crude worth 100,000 liters stored in reservoirs, calibrated surface tanks, processed AGO in cooking pots, and metal buckets,” the commander was quoted as saying.