NSCDC Arrests 5 Suspects for Allegedly Stealing 500,000 Liters of Crude Oil in Rivers State

The Rivers State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has recently made a significant breakthrough in its fight against oil theft in the region.

According to a statement released by the NSCDC spokesman, SC Olufemi Ayodele, the agency arrested five suspected oil thieves for allegedly siphoning 500,000 liters of crude oil from pipelines in Rivers State.

The arrests were made during a successful raid on 10 illegal bunkering sites at Odagwa community in Etche, Rivers.

The operation was a result of a credible intelligence that prompted the NSCDC’s special intelligence squad to take action.

During the raid, the team discovered 10 illegal refineries in the Odawa forest and apprehended five suspects caught in the act of illegally refining crude oil within the sites.

The recovered items from the illegal refineries include 10 cooking pots, a pumping machine, receiver tanks, 25 rubber hoses, and several lengths of galvanized pipes.

The pipes, containing unspecified quantities of crude oil and adulterated diesel, were linked to six large reservoirs and 20 smaller reservoirs buried underground.

The NSCDC spokesman condemned the activities of oil thieves in the state, describing them as unscrupulous and a major threat to the energy sector.

He emphasized that the agency would continue to collaborate closely with other security agencies to effectively tackle the menace of oil theft in the state.

As the fight against oil theft in Nigeria continues, the recent arrests by the Rivers State Command of the NSCDC are a testament to the agency’s commitment to protecting the nation’s energy resources and ensuring the safety and security of its citizens.