The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has announced that it has destroyed over 600,000 liters of illegal crude oil products and arrested 51 suspects in various operations across the country since January 2024.
According to a statement by the NSCDC media office, the agency’s operatives destroyed six illegal refineries with approximately 500,000 liters of illegally sourced crude oil, leading to the arrest of five suspects and the confiscation of locally fabricated ovens in Rivers State.
In other operations, the NSCDC arrested suspects and destroyed illegal bunkering sites, surface plastic tanks, drums, and galvanized pipes and hoses used for conveying suspected bunkering products. The agency also discovered and destroyed several illegally tapped pipes to oil trunk lines for crude oil theft and large quantities of stolen and syphoned crude oil and other materials.
In addition to these operations, the NSCDC arrested suspects involved in other criminal activities, including logistics supply to bandits, kidnappers, and thieves, and impounded trucks and containers used for illegal activities.
The NSCDC attributed its success to the restructuring efforts of the Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, which included the creation of the CG Special Intelligence Squad (SIS) to tackle crimes such as illegal bunkering, kidnapping, banditry, and armed robbery.