The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State Command, has discovered a sizable dump site used to store stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products in the Agbada Community, Ikwerre local government area of Rivers State.
Less than two kilometres separate the Heirs Oil and Gas-operated Agbada flow Station from the ten-plot, walled dump site, which contains 170 1,000-liter surface industrial tanks and two 5,500-liter metal storage tanks.
The supervisor and gatekeeper were among the four employees of the dump site who were taken into custody.
The disposal location was discovered by the Command's Antivandal Unit after receiving reliable information, according to the State Commandant, Michael Ogar, who accompanied Command employees and journalists there.
Michael Ogar expressed concern over the proximity of the dump site to the Agbada Flow Station, saying a comprehensive investigation has been launched into the illegal business.
He added that the premises which is currently being manned by personnel of the Command will remain sealed until the investigation to unravel the owner is concluded.
The NSCDC State Commandant also reiterated that any building or site where illegal oil bunkering activities are discovered would be sealed by the Corps and subsequently forfeited to the federal government.
Some of the suspects arrested at the dump site, however, denied any involvement in crude oil theft, saying they are carrying out genuine business on the site.
The Senate Committee on Crude Oil Theft had recently visited the Agbada Flow Station as part of its field investigation into the menace in the Niger Delta.
During the visit, the Vice President, of Heirs Oil and Gas, Bola Bode told the Committee that the 55,000 barrels per day capacity production facility has not produced a single barrel since May this year and blamed the development on oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
In another development, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Rivers State Command have paraded 16 suspects arrested at different locations in the state over alleged involvement in oil theft and illegal dealings in petroleum products.
The 16 suspected include eight arrested by the Nigerian Navy in the creeks as well as eight others arrested by the Command’s Antivandal Land Patrol over alleged dealings in stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products.
Parading the suspects at the NSCDC Office in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, State Commandant, Michael Ogar, said the suspects were arrested following a renewed vigour to salvage the Nation’s economy from saboteurs.
Michael Ogar restated the Command’s commitment in arresting and prosecuting pipeline vandals and crude oil thieves as well as their sponsors.
He said in the last month, over 40 suspects were arrested, out of which 30 have so far been charged to court, adding that the Command under his watch will not relent in the fight against crude oil theft and illegal refining.
The NSCDC State Commandant who later led the journalist to the Command’s Exhibit Yard, explains that over 200,000 litres of illegally refined petroleum products were recovered from the 16 suspects, saying the products together with trucks, vehicles and wooden boats will be forfeited to the federal government and the suspects charged to court.