By Palma Ileye
Acting on the 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; the CG’s SIS uncovered an ongoing illegal bunkering site located at Tombo Camp, Well 9 Waterfront, Umuegusi community of Owaza Town in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State.
This was disclosed in a press release issued by CSC Afolabi Babawale Corps’ National Spokesperson to newsmen in Abuja
The NSCDC in the statement said that it gathered from the CG’S SIS Commander DCC Appolos Dandaura that storming the identified location the operatives 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.
He hinted that some of the discovered local cooking pots were actively boiling suspected stolen crude oil into adulterated Automotive Gas Oil, AGO.
Appollos said 3 suspects were also 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, ‘m’, ’37yrs’, from Opobo Nkoro LGA of Rivers State, acclaimed owner of the wooden boat, Amadi Glory, ‘f’, ’26yrs’, from Omuma LGA of Rivers State, a waiting buyer of the stolen crude by the waterfront, Ebere Chioma, ‘m’, ’32yrs’, an indigene of Etche LGA of Rivers State.
“While on the sting operation, the following exhibits were also sighted and dismantled; Several Three-in-one drum cooking ovens; two [2] numbers Two-in-one ovens; a single drum ovens; Different lengths of galvanised iron pipes; Metal Funnels; Over fifty [50] pieces of 30 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 and already loaded in the local cooking ovens and shovels as well as cutlasses,” he said.
The leader of the squad added that the suspect would be charged to court of competent jurisdiction at the expiration of a thorough investigation.