LAGOS – The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested seven suspected oil thieves in Rivers State, Among the suspects is a notorious criminal who is said to have been involved in large-scale oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region.
In a statement released by the NSCDC’s Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, the arrests were carried out by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS), following a tip-off.
The suspects were apprehended during a sting operation in the Adobi Swampy Forest, located in Odagwa, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
One of the key suspects, identified as 43-year-old AbdulRauf Lawal, is believed to be a high-profile figure in illegal oil bunkering operations. He and six other individuals were arrested while engaging in oil theft activities in the area.
According to Afolabi, the criminals had set up a large surface trampoline reservoir filled with stolen crude oil, which was siphoned from a wellhead.
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The suspects had also constructed two local ovens within the swampy forest to refine the stolen crude oil.
The NSCDC team discovered several pieces of equipment at the scene, including Tampauline reservoirs, local cooking ovens, and a large quantity of crude oil connected to an illegal refinery site near the Imo/Rivers 11 Flow Station.
In addition to AbdulRauf Lawal, the other suspects arrested include Okechukwu Princewill, Samuel Chukwuma Nwogu, Ndubuisi Emmanuel, Samuel Okon Ebong, and Happiness Monday.
The suspects were involved in various roles, from transporting the stolen oil to purchasing it.
Items recovered from the operation included large amounts of crude oil stored in a wooden boat, 6-inch industrial hoses used for siphoning, and other tools used in the illegal refining process.
The NSCDC emphasized its commitment to curbing oil theft and protecting the nation’s economy from such criminal activities.
