The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has intercepted stolen crude oil from oil thieves in the Oguta local government area of Imo State.
This was contained in a statement signed by the NSCDC Spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, and released on Monday.
Afolabi noted that the products seized from the vandals have been burned by NSCDC operatives who destroyed their makeshift storage facilities and warehouses located inside the forest.
He said, “I want to inform you again that on the 24th of November, 2023, the vigilant and eagle-eyed special intelligence squad of the NSCDC was able to detect and intercept another large quantity of vandalized and stolen adulterated crude oil believed to have been siphoned from a vandalized wellhead belonging to a multinational oil company and located at Nkwuogologo Area in Ogiata LGA, Imo State.
“The NSCDC swiftly moved to the riverine location where many drums filled with adulterated crude oil were discovered.”
According to him, the vandals took to their heels and abandoned the products on sighting the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad which had made Imo state and its environs hot for oil thieves and vandals within the past two months.
Afolabi stated, “The operatives were able to impound all the stolen crude oil which was subsequently destroyed by setting them on fire.
“In the meantime, the Commandant General, Ahmed Audi, has been briefed on the development and has ordered a massive manhunt for the vandals who are at large.
“The Commandant General wishes to reiterate the readiness of the corps not to relent on the effort to rid the society of the oil thieves, especially in the Niger Delta region adding that the Corps is battle ready to achieve huge success.”