The Marine Unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Rivers State Command, has disrupted the operations of local refinery owners at Cutting Channel One, Degema Local Government Area, Rivers state.
Superintendent Olufemi Ayodele, the command’s spokesperson, told reporters that the NSCDC Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, had directed the Rivers State Commandant, Basil Igwebueze, to increase intelligence and protection of all critical national assets and infrastructure, both on land and in waterways.
He intimated that the Marine Unit’s success depended on genuine intelligence that some individuals were conducting illicit oil bunkering activities at the Cutting Channel Area, vandalizing Sahara Oil Well heads and pipes.
According to the allegation, they went on to syphon crude oil and later created a small refining facility in the area.
“With full determination to combat the menace of illegal oil bunkering activities on the waterways, the Marine Unit swung into action by taking charge of the environment,” the statement said.
The suspects reportedly took to their heels upon sighting the marine operatives.
According to the statement:
“The state commandant ordered massive destruction of all materials used in carrying out the illegal oil bunkering and over four different refining stations have been destroyed altogether.
“To ensure that the suspects do not reconstruct the local refinery, the NSCDC Marine Personnel has also been directed to intensify patrol in the area.”
NSCDC appealed to the public to continue to give actionable information that would lead to the arrests of criminal-minded persons, even as it assured informants of overall protection and secrecy of any given information.