The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has successfully dismantled illicit oil bunkering activities in Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State, marking a significant stride in combating economic sabotage.
According to a statement released on Wednesday by NSCDC spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad executed a decisive operation, resulting in the shutdown of an illegal oil bunkering site in Inhandu Community. The operation uncovered a large local Pour-put Boat used for transporting locally refined petroleum products, alongside a loading point and 9000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
Afolabi revealed that the NSCDC’s intelligence team, acting on credible information, identified ongoing bunkering activities at the Inhandu/Ikwariator Riverside area. Swift action led to the discovery of a well-established bunkering site, complete with wooden boats, cellophane bags filled with AGO, and vehicles primed for transportation.
Among the recovered exhibits were two Fibre Boats equipped with 40 Horse Power Yamaha Engines, two empty J5 Buses, and one Sequoia Jeep. Additionally, two large wooden boats under construction and concealed quantities of AGO were seized.
The NSCDC’s Intelligence and Investigation department has initiated a thorough probe to identify the perpetrators and beneficiaries of the illegal operation. Plans are underway to seek forfeiture of seized products and conveyance materials through legal channels upon the completion of investigations.
Afolabi urged the public to collaborate with NSCDC in combating crude oil theft, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts in safeguarding the nation’s economy from sabotage. This successful intervention underscores NSCDC’s commitment to enforcing law and order, protecting national resources, and upholding economic integrity.
