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Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have arrested two teenagers suspected of oil theft and destroyed of several illegal refineries in the Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.
The arrests were made as part of the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad’s ongoing efforts to combat oil theft and economic sabotage.
According to a statement by the Corps’ Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, on Friday, the operatives raided a swampy forest in the Umuorie/Umukala community, where illegal refineries with over 20 local drum ovens were in operation.
The Commander of the Intelligence Squad, DC Apollos Dandaura, confirmed the arrests and reiterated the NSCDC’s commitment to eradicating illegal oil bunkering activities in the region.
“This arrest is one of the numerous ongoing operations aimed at checkmating all forms of illegal oil bunkering activities and crude theft in Abia State.
“We swiftly acted on the credible intelligence information at our disposal, and while combing the entire area, we stormed a swampy forest where an artisanal oil refinery site was located. You need to see how these criminal-minded suspects were tapping and siphoning crude oil from the installed wellheads located around the pipelines by the NPDC at Umuorie in the ASA/Ibuzor axis of Ukwa West LGA of the State,” Dandaura noted.
While most of the suspects fled upon sighting the operatives, “two were apprehended: 16-year-old Endurance David and 13-year-old Abadiedot Anieke,” the statement read.
Recovered items included metallic pipes used for siphoning crude oil, dug-in reservoirs filled with oil, and various tools such as buckets and funnels.
The statement added that investigations were ongoing, and the suspects will be prosecuted upon the conclusion of the inquiry.
