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With a renewed vigour to combat the menace of illegal oil bunkering activities, vandalism of oil pipelines and illegal dealings in petroleum products; the Marine Unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Rivers State Command has foiled the operations of owners of local refineries in Cutting Channel One, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Addressing the newsmen the spokesperson of the Command Superintendent Olufemi Ayodele said the NSCDC Commandant General Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi mni.OFR has zero tolerance for all acts of economic sabotage hence he directed the Rivers State Commandant Basil Igwebueze to step up Intelligence and protection of all critical national assets and Infrastructure both on land and the waterways.
He hinted that the success of the Marine Unit hinged on credible Intelligence that some suspects were carrying out illegal oil bunkering activities at Cawthome Channels having vandalized Sahara Oil Well Heads and pipes; they went further to syphoned Crude oil and establish a local refining site 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”.
“Notably, the suspects took to their heels upon sighting the marine operatives”
In furtherance to this; the State Commandant ordered massive destruction of all Materials used in carrying out the illegal oil bunkering and Over Four (4) 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.
“Our commitment to ensure that Rivers State is a safe haven for the dwellers remains firm and most importantly our nation must be savaged from economic saboteurs who are milking on the wealth and resources of the country”.
“The Command will not relent in her collaboration with all Sister Security Agencies in order to fight to stand still the activities of illegal oil bunkerers in Rivers State”.
“In addition, we here by appeal to the public to continue giving us actionable information that would lead to the arrests of criminal minded persons even as we assure our informants of overal protection and secrecy of any given information”.