The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has uncovered an ongoing illegal bunkering site at Tombo Camp, Well 9 Waterfront, Umuegusi community of Owaza Town in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State.
This is in line with the Acting Commandant General’s directive on the need to intensify the war against crude oil theft to salvage the nation’s economy from the hands of vandals and saboteurs.
According to a statement signed by National Public Relations Officer, CSC Afolabi Babawale, the operation led by DCC Appolos Dandaura identified the location where illegal bunkering was taking place and discovered a massive expanse of land with over 10 active local cooking ovens and drums categorised into three-in-one, two-in-one, and single drum used for boiling crude.
Some of the discovered local cooking pots were actively boiling suspected stolen crude oil into adulterated automotive gas oil (AGO), while three suspects were apprehended for their separate active roles in the illegal oil bunkering activities ranging from buying stolen crude oil, owner of the burnt large wooden boat used in conveying stolen crude and a boiler in the artisanal oil refining site.
” With the eagle eye of the Squad, 3 Suspects have been arrested for their involvement in crude oil theft and vandalism. They are: Joseph Cookeygan, male, 37years from Opobo Nkoro LGA of Rivers State [acclaimed owner of the wooden boat]; Amadi Glory, female, 26yrs, from Omuma LGA of Rivers State [a waiting buyer of the stolen crude by the waterfront]; and Ebere Chioma, male, 32years, an indigene of Etche LGA of Rivers State.
While on the sting operation, exhibits such as several three-in-one drum cooking ovens; two Two-in-one ovens; a single drum ovens; different lengths of galvanised iron pipes; metal funnels; over fifty pieces of thirty litres jerrycans; metal and plastic buckets; an estimated quantity of over one hundred thousand [100,00] litres of siphoned crude oil packaged in cellophane nylons & already loaded in the local cooking ovens; Shovels & cutlasses were all sited and dismantled.
“The suspect would be charged to court of competent jurisdiction at the expiration of a thorough investigation,” reads the statement.
