Police destroy illegal refinery, recover 40,000 litres of petrol
Police destroy illegal refinery, recover 40,000 litres of petrol
Abdullateef Fowewe
The operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering (IGP-STFPIB), have destroyed a storage facility used in dealing and processing illegally acquired crude oil in Trans Amadi, Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
The uncovering of the illegal refinery also led to the arrest of four suspects and the recovery of 40,000 litres of petroleum products, stored in 67 white storage tanks.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Friday.
Adejobi said, “The operatives of the IGP Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering (IGP-STFPIB) have once again made a significant breakthrough in the continuous fight against oil theft, illegal bunkering and economic sabotage.
“This milestone achievement was marked after the operatives, in collaboration with the department of operations, Rivers State Command, on 12th September 2024, made the discovery of a storage facility in Trans Amadi, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, used in dealing and processing illegally acquired Crude oil.
“This operation had led to the arrest of four (4) suspects namely; Emmanuel Nwachi ‘m’ 58 years; Adamu Bala ‘m’ 35years; Nura Musa ‘m’ 22 years; Bashir Abubakar ‘m’ 28 years, and the recovery of 40,000 Litres of petroleum products, stored in 67 white storage tanks. The team however destroyed the site and recovered the equipment and machines used in committing these crimes.”
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun according to Adejobi reemphasised the commitment of the Force to tackling every form of crime, criminality, and corruption, extending to those involved in this economic sabotage, stating that the Force remains unyielding and will continue to bring the perpetrators to book.