The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has confirmed the arrest of nine individuals suspected of engaging in oil theft in Rivers State. The announcement was made by NSCDC Public Relations Officer (PRO), Babawale Afolabi, in a press release issued on Monday in Abuja.
The suspects were apprehended at an unauthorized refinery situated in a forest area on the border between Rivers and Abia states. According to Afolabi, the individuals were caught in the act of illegally refining stolen crude oil extracted from a vandalized oil wellhead.
“We apprehended nine suspects caught in the act of illegally refining stolen crude extracted from a vandalized oil wellhead,” Afolabi stated. He also highlighted the discovery of an ongoing construction of a local refinery with the capacity to produce 60,000 liters of crude oil at once. At the massive illegal bunkering site, large hoses and galvanized metal pipes were found, used to transfer stolen crude across processing channels.
The suspects have been identified as Oghene Wede (32), Moses James (25), Chidi Nwosu (53), Samuel John (24), Emmanuel Paul (20), Oghenevo Nwebi (43), Martina WhinnyPeter (38), Nwabuchi Nwogu (41), and David Okere (20).
Afolabi noted that an investigation has begun, and the suspects will face charges in court. The site of the illegal operation included more than 15 modular ovens, four fabricated reservoirs, and 30 excavated pits for storing processed AGO.