By Abbanobi -Eku Onyekachi, Abuja
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp’s (CG’s) Special Intelligence Squad (SIS) uncovered an ongoing illegal bunkering site located at Tombo Camp, Well 9 Waterfront, Umuegusi community of Owaza Town in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State, according to a press release from the National Public Relations Officer, CSC Afolabi Babawale Thursday.
Our correspondent gathered from the CG’S SIS Commander DCC Appolos Dandaura that storming the identified location the operatives discovered a massive expanse of land with over 10 active local cooking ovens and drums categorised into three-in-one, two-in-one, and single drum used for boiling crude.
He hinted that some of the discovered local cooking pots were actively boiling suspected stolen crude oil into adulterated automotive gas oil (AGO)
DC Appollos said three suspects were also apprehended for their separate active roles in the illegal oil bunkering activities ranging from buying stolen crude oil, owner of the burnt large wooden boat used in conveying stolen crude and a boiler in the artisanal oil refining site.
“With the eagle eye of the Squad, three suspects been arrested for their involvement in crude oil theft and vandalism” They are: Joseph Cookeygan, male, ’37 years from Opobo Nkoro LGA of Rivers State [acclaimed owner of the wooden boat]; Amadi Glory, female, 26 years from Omuma LGA of Rivers State, [a waiting buyer of the stolen crude by the waterfront] and; Ebere Chioma, male, 32 years, an indigene of Etche LGA of Rivers State.
While on the sting operation, the following exhibits were also sighted and dismantled: several three-in-one drum cooking ovens; two numbers of two-in-one ovens; a single drum; different lengths of galvanised iron pipes; metal funnels; over 50 pieces of 30 litres jerry cans; six metal & plastic buckets; an estimated quantity of over 100,000 litres of siphoned crude oil packaged in cellophane nylons, already loaded in the local cooking ovens and; shovels and cutlasses
According to the release, the suspect would be charged to court of competent jurisdiction at the expiration of a thorough investigation
