ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Inspector General of Police Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering (IGP-STFPIB) uncovered an illegal oil refinery operation in Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The task force, On September 12, 2024, working in collaboration with the Rivers State Police Command’s Department of Operations, discovered a storage facility used for processing and dealing with illegally acquired crude oil.
According to a statement by the Police Force Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, four suspects were apprehended at the scene.
The suspects, identified as Emmanuel Nwachi, 58; Adamu Bala, 35; Nura Musa, 22; and Bashir Abubakar, 28, were arrested in connection with the illegal operation.
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During the raid, authorities recovered 40,000 litres of petroleum products stored in 67 white storage tanks.
The police team destroyed the illegal refinery site and seized equipment and machinery used in the operation.
Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, reiterated the force’s commitment to eradicating crime and corruption, particularly targeting individuals engaged in economic sabotage through oil theft.
The police vowed to remain relentless in bringing perpetrators to justice.
This operation marks another milestone in the ongoing crackdown on illegal bunkering activities in Nigeria.