The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has dismantled an illegal refinery with more than 100,000 litres of crude oil in Adobi settlement in the Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.

A statement by NSCDC spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, on Saturday in Abuja indicated that the site was uncovered by the commandant-general’s special intelligence squad.

It quoted the commander of the special squad, Dandaura Appolos, as attributing the success of the operation to credible intelligence reports.

Mr Apollos further said that the intelligence indicated that some suspects had vandalised a multinational company’s well head.

“We value and protect our informants and the information received is always treated with caution, confidentiality and prompt alertness,” Mr Apollos said, while thanking the informants.

He also explained that on getting to the site, it was discovered that the suspects had connected galvanised metal pipes with large hoses and had siphoned crude oil for local processing.

He said, “As soon as we arrived at the scene, the suspects took to their heels but we were able to arrest one 32 years old Godspower Oyibo, male, from Delta State. He is currently assisting us with further investigation and shall be charged to court after interrogation. Exhibits impounded from the site include one yellow robin EY 20 pumping machine, galvanised metal pipes, long large hoses, already vandalised well heads, and stolen crude worth 100,000 litres stored in reservoirs. Others are calibrated surface tanks, processed AGO in cooking pots and metal buckets.’’

Meanwhile, the corps’ spokesperson assured the public that the NSCDC would sustain its war against vandalism and crude oil theft across the nation.

(NAN)