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Tag: illegal refinery

  • Navy dismantles illegal refinery in Ondo, arrests seven suspects

    Navy dismantles illegal refinery in Ondo, arrests seven suspects

    Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Igbokoda, in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, have dismantled an illegal refinery in Obe-Jedo and Obe-Adun communities.

     The Commander of the FOB, Navy Captain Aliyu Usman, who confirmed the operation on Friday, said seven suspects were arrested at the scene, while locally made guns and machetes believed to have been used to resist the Navy’s intervention were recovered.

     Usman explained that the raid followed credible intelligence on economic sabotage and maritime crimes in the area.

     He revealed that during the operation, about 3,000 litres of refined diesel stored in jerry cans and multiple cooking ovens used for processing stolen crude oil were discovered.

     According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the arrested suspects were secondary actors in the illegal operation and had since been released.

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     He, however, declared the primary suspects wanted to ensure they face prosecution for economic crimes against the nation.

     The Navy Commander disclosed that the anti-crude oil theft team initially faced violent resistance from a group of hired youths and women who attempted to shield the illegal activity.

     “The team later returned in the early hours of the following day and discovered that the stolen crude oil and refined products had been moved to a nearby bakery and makeshift structures used as storage facilities.

     “The illegal refinery was subsequently deactivated in line with directives from Defence Headquarters and established operational procedures,” he said.

  • Navy destroys two million litres illegal refinery in Rivers

    Navy destroys two million litres illegal refinery in Rivers

    Troops of Operation DELTA SANITY, a Nigerian Navy’s operation against oil thieves in the Niger Delta region, have destroyed an Illegal refinery with a two million litres daily capacity along Ogoloma/Bakana waterways in Rivers State.

    The illegal refinery was destroyed on August 17, according to the Navy’s spokesperson Commodore Aiwuyor Aliu-Adams, in a statement yesterday.

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    Commodore Aliu-Adams said the Nigerian Navy had also made some significant successes against oil thieves within the month.

    He said: “On 9 August 2024, the troops of Operation Delta Sanity destroyed one Illegal refinery site, five metal drums, and several pipes at Dumbe camp and Atuo general area of Bayelsa State.

     “On August 12, they destroyed one Illegal refinery site at Ataba Community, Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers state. The troops also, on August 14 destroyed three Illegal refinery sites, five refining ovens, and three wooden boats and recovered large quantities of illegally refined automotive gas Oil in Brass, Bassambari, and Nembe axis of the Creeks in Bayelsa State.”

  • Army seizes illegal refinery with one million litres of stolen crude

    Army seizes illegal refinery with one million litres of stolen crude

    The Nigerian Army 6 Division Garrison has clamped down on another massive illegal refinery built in hectares of land by oil thieves in the thick forest of Odagwe, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    The army during the anti-bunkering operation led by the Commander, 6 Division Garrison and Sector 3, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Brigadier-General Eddie Effiong, found eight crude oil reservoirs and five boilers containing over 1 million litres of stolen crude oil at the site.

    Effiong, who toured the swampy site on Friday, said each of the discovered reservoirs contained over 100,000 litres of crude.

    He said intelligence gathering led to the discovery of economic sabotage.

    He said: “In continuation of the fight against crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering, we got a tip off from our contacts that illegal oil refinery has commenced on the opposite side of this road after we destroyed them on the other side. The oil thieves relocated here and then reestablished their illegal refineries and continued their illegal activities.

    “Coming here today, we found out that they have truly relocated to the right side and reestablished their illegal refining sites and they are still trying to establish more sites.

    “In this reestablished illegal refining site, we have discovered eight reservoirs and five cooking pots. And from our gathering, the minimum quantity of crude in each reservoir is nothing less than 100,000 litres of stolen crude that is about to be refined into AGO (diesel).”

    Read Also: Army seizes illegal refinery with five million litres of crude in Rivers

    Effiong said that troops of the division would not rest until the fight against illegal oil bunkering and oil theft was won in the region.

    He noted that the division would also deploy the non-kinetic approach of tackling the menace by advising the oil thieves to stop their illegal activities.

    He said that the division would continue to adopt dialogue as part of its non-kinetic approach and appealed to the consciences of community heads and youth leaders through regular seminars.

    He said: “We are also trying our best to discourage them through their village heads and youth leaders, talking to them.

    “We all know what crude oil is to the Nigerian economy. Everyone in the country is feeling the impact of the economy presently, and the more they do this, it is also going to negatively impact all of us.”

    Effiong advised all the persons involved in illegal oil bunkering activities within the state and Niger Delta region to repent and look for better means of making money.

    “Yes, things are hard but that shouldn’t push us into criminality, because our country is bleeding and if we keep doing this, we will keep bleeding the more and everybody will feel it,” he said.

  • Army seizes illegal refinery with five million litres of crude in Rivers

    Army seizes illegal refinery with five million litres of crude in Rivers

    The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army has taken over a massive illegal refining camp with the capacity to refine five million litres of crude oil.

    Troops of the division raided the camp located along the Mirinwanyi channel of the Imo River at Komkom in Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state.

    It was found that about five million litres of crude oil had already been stolen to be refined in the camp before the troops of the division raided the area.

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Maj.-Gen. Jamal Abdusalam and officers of the division yesterday went to the far-flung creek on speedboats to assess the camp.

    The visit showed that the operators carefully set up the camp with 15 boilers, nine storage tanks, newly acquired pipes, makeshift houses and other expensive facilities worth millions of naira.

    It was observed that the camp sitting in an expansive forest had been engulfed by fire, which destroyed all the green vegetation in the area.

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    On their way to the camp, the troops also found about five big wooden Cotonou boats laden with crude oil along the waterways.

    Abdusalam, who toured the entire camp, described his findings as sad saying the division would not relent in its determination to destroy all illegal refineries and illegal connections in its area of responsibility.

    He said after their last raid of an illegal refinery at Odagwa in Etche Local Government, he thought that no other one would be bigger in size until the troops carried out the latest raid.

    Abdusalam said: “We have discovered over 15 boilers and about nine reservoirs. From our estimation, the crude oil that had been stolen and reserved here for processing is over N5million litres.

    “On our way, we saw large Cotonou boats capable of taking 200 litres. We saw more than five on our way filled with crude oil. It is indeed very sad that these activities continued. We will not get tired. We will continue with our job.”

    He said though the operators fled the area, the division was following some leads to arrest the real culprits behind the sabotage.

    He said: “No arrest has been made. I said it before that most of the arrests were labourers working on the site. We have not been able to get real culprits. We can see the facilities here. It is not something that ordinary persons can set up. It needs money, expertise and careful planning.

    “So it is beyond the people we arrest. We are following several leads and we are hoping that those leads will take us to those, who are actually responsible. This activity is illegal, criminal and dirty. We call on people to embrace legitimate businesses.”

  • 18 burnt to death in Rivers illegal refinery fire

    18 burnt to death in Rivers illegal refinery fire

    No fewer than 18  persons have been burnt to death by fire that engulfed an illegal oil refinery site at Ibaa, Emohua Local Government Area of  Rivers State.

    Twenty-five others at the scene were injured when the inferno broke out Sunday night. 

    An amateur video of the fire showed remains of children, men and women littering the scene. 

    The  Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Basil Igwebueze, and   Emuoha Local Government Area Chairman, Chidi Lloyd, confirmed the tragedy.

    Igwebueze gave the death toll of 18, but a community source said it was 33. 

     The commandant said a pregnant woman, the son of the illegal refinery operator and an about-to-wed lady were among those burnt to ashes.

    He said while the owner of the refinery,   John Bodo, sustained severe injury, his son, Uche, who graduated recently from a tertiary institution, died on the spot.

    Igwebueze said: “The fire outbreak started at a very late hour. Hence, 18 victims were burnt beyond recognition while 25 injured persons were rescued.

    “From our preliminary findings, it was gathered that the inferno was caused by a local refinery cooking pot constructed close to an oil reservoir which contained combustible materials.

    Read Also: Pregnant woman, son of owner, about-to-wed lady died in Rivers illegal refinery inferno

    “The temperature eventually became too high and the environment gutted fire. We also gathered that the cooking pot belonged to one Mr. John Bodo, who sustained severe fire injuries while his son, Uche John Bodo, a fresh graduate, died on the spot.

    “It is also lamentable to relay that most of the victims were youths. Then. a pregnant woman and a young lady getting ready for her marriage ceremony next month were all casualties. “

    The commandant decried the unrepentant nature of those dealing illegally in petroleum products through the construction and operation of local refineries.

    He said:  “It is disheartening that the more we dismantle these illegal refineries, the more people engage in such unscrupulous activities.

    “The fire disaster is highly condemnable and uncalled for. There is a need for conscious effort and stronger collaborations with the traditional institutions, community youths and religious leaders amongst others to fight oil bunkering in our various communities. “

    While condoling with the affected families, the commandant warned those operating illegal refineries across the state to have a rethink.

    A resident, Emmanuel Daniel, who put the number of those burnt to death at 33, said that 15 injured persons were rushed to the hospital.

    He said the victims, mostly from Isiokpo Kingdom in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Ibaa and Oduoha in Emohua LGA,  went to the area to trade on petroleum products when the fire broke out.

    His words:  “About  45 people were there at the site. They were  scooping and bagging crude oil when the fire caught up with them.”

  • Pregnant woman, son of owner, about-to-wed lady died in Rivers illegal refinery inferno

    Pregnant woman, son of owner, about-to-wed lady died in Rivers illegal refinery inferno

    The Rivers State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Basil Igwebueze has confirmed a pregnant woman, the son of the illegal refinery owner and an about-to-wed lady were among victims of fire that engulfed an illegal refinery at Ibaa community in Emohua Local Government Area.

    He said while the owner of the illegal refinery identified as John Bodo sustained severe injuries, his son, Uche Bodo, who just graduated from a tertiary institutions died at the spot.

    Basil said: “The fire outbreak started at a very late hour hence 18 victims were burnt beyond recognition while 25 injured persons were rescued.


    From our preliminary findings it was gathered that the inferno was caused by a local refinery cooking pot constructed close to an oil reservoir which contained combustible materials.

    “The burning temperature eventually became too high and the environment gutted fire. We also gathered that the cooking pot belong to one Mr John Bodo who sustained severe fire injuries while his son, Uche John Bodo a fresh graduate died on the spot.

    “It is also lamentable to relay that most of the victim were youths; then a pregnant woman and a young lady getting ready for her marriage ceremony next month were all casualties”.

    Basil condemned the activities of economic saboteurs engaging in Vandalism of oil pipelines and operations of local refineries in the State.

    Read Also: 35 roasted to death in Rivers illegal refinery

    He decried the unrepentant nature of those dealing illegally in petroleum products through construction and operation of local refineries.

    He said he he command had made meaningful efforts by destroying a good number of illegal oil bunkering sites and oil dumps across the state.

    He said: “In collaborations with sister security agencies we have identified through sustained intelligence certain areas where local refineries were constructed and such illegal sites have been taken over by our Antivandal Squad to prevent further operations by perpetrators.

    “it is, however, disheartening that the more we dismantle these illegal refineries the more people engaged in such unscrupulous activities. Recall that the Command antivandal Squad recently took over and dismantle a local refinery under construction at Umuechem in Etche Local Government.

    “Thus, the fire disaster which occured in Ibaa community is highly condemnable and uncalled for; there is need for conscious effort and stronger collaborations with the traditional institutions, community youths, religious leaders amongst others to fight against oil bunkering activities in our various communities and this begins with giving credible Intelligence and information to the NSCDC who remains the lead agency in the fight against vandalism of oil pipelines and protection of critical national assets and Infrastructures in Rivers State”.

    While condoling with the affected families; the NSCDC Rivers State Commandant warned those operating local refineries in some communities across the State.

  • 35 roasted to death in Rivers illegal refinery

    35 roasted to death in Rivers illegal refinery

    About 35 persons have been burnt to death by fire that engulfed a site of an illegal oil refinery in Rivers State.

    It was gathered that the tragedy occurred at Ibaa Community, Emohua Local Government Area of the state.

    The fire was said to have broken out late Sunday night when over 45 persons were gathered at the time to transact illegal oil business.

    A source from the community, who spoke in confidence, said some of his cousins and a wife to one of them died in the incident.

    “My community has been thrown into mourning. My cousins and a wife to one of my cousins went there too for some business but died,” he said

    Another source, Emmanuel Daniel, said the victims went to the area to trade on the petroleum product when the engulfed the site.

    Daniel said that people from Isiokpo Kingdom in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Ibaa and Oduoha in Emohua LGA, were affected by the fire.

    Daniel said: “More than 40 people were there at the site. They were there scooping and bagging crude oil when fire caught up with them

    “The fire came from a refining site that is close to the point where they were bagging the crude.

    “Many Isiokpo and Oduoha people, and Ibaa people were there. Seven of the people died inside the pit where they were scooping the crude. About 10 burnt to charcoal by the pit.

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    “About 30 people died at the site while over 15 have been rushed to the hospital. I hear that three of them have died while they were being rushed to the hospital.”

    A video showed charred remains of children, men and women, who were victims of the incident, littering the scene of the incident.

    When contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) promised to get more information about the development.

    Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Emuoha Local Government Area, Chidi Lloyd, said it was unfortunate that some youths were still engaging in the illicit trade despite warnings and public advocacy.

    Lloyd appealed to traditional rulers in the area to speak out about and discourage such criminal activities within their domains.

    He said: “It is unfortunate that people who have been misguided would lose their lives in that kind of dastardly manner in Ibaa.

    “We have said this for the umpteenth time and anybody who is in Rivers State will bear me witness thet there cannot be any short cut to wealth.

    “I also have said to traditional rulers that they have a duty. It is not just to be given recognition, that they have a duty to expose criminal elements within their neighbourhood. “

    The council chair identified Oblle, Rukuni and Ndele as the other communities where illegal oil refining activities had persisted despite warnings.

    He added: “This same activity is currently going on in Rukuni, going on in Ndele. It is going on in Obelle and for All these I have raised the alarm to security agencues.

    “It is not as if the security agent or agencies are not aware of what is going on. I have always ask a simple question how do these people transport this crude?

    “There is an army formation in Ibaa. In fact, there they even fenced up the road. So how do these people move?”

  • ‘Illegal refinery’ found in Sokoto

     The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said yesterday it had discovered an illegal refinery, operated in a rented apartment in Sokoto State.

    The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Babangida Dutsin-ma, told the  News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto that the commandant’s surveillance team discovered the “mini refinery” located in a rented apartment owned by a popular Sokoto businessman, along Bodinga road in the outskirt of Sokoto metropolis.

    “The NSCDC anti-vandal team on surveillance detected the centre in which those involved in the adulteration dug a big hole using a large tank in perpetrating the act.

    “The ditch is connected to a transformer from which they tap electricity for heating the adulterated products,’’ he said.

    The commandant said the perpetrators of the act fled the scene on sighting NSCDC officials in the area.

  • ‘Illegal refinery’ found in Sokoto

    ‘Illegal refinery’ found in Sokoto

    The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said Friday it had discovered an illegal refinery, operated in a rented apartment in Sokoto state.

    The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Babangida Dutsin-ma, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto that the commandant’s surveillance team discovered the “mini refinery” located in a rented apartment owned by a popular Sokoto businessman, along Bodinga road in the outskirt of Sokoto metropolis.

    “The NSCDC anti-vandal team on surveillance detected the centre in which those involved in the adulteration dug a big hole using a large tank in perpetrating the act.

    “The ditch is connected to a transformer from which they tap electricity for heating the adulterated products,’’ he said.

    The commandant said the perpetrators of the act fled the scene on sighting NSCDC officials in the area.

    He said the officials confiscated some of the equipment, including jerry cans, empty metal drums, electric cables and containers, used in adulterating the petroleum products.

    According to him, preliminary investigation showed that the perpetrators adulterate Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol, and black oil to produce various petroleum products and supply same to unsuspecting consumers.

    The commandant, therefore, urged the public, especially people in the area, to assist the command with useful information on any suspicious movements in their communities.

  • Navy destroy illegal refinery with 1.59m litres of stolen diesel

    Navy destroy illegal refinery with 1.59m litres of stolen diesel

    The Nigerian Navy on Friday said it had discovered and destroyed an illegal refinery with 1.59 million litres of illegally refined diesel during a mop-up operation in Port Harcourt.

    Speaking at the destruction exercise, Commodore Williams Kayoda, the Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, however, said no arrest was made during the raid.

    Kayoda said the navy deployed troops to the site after it got intelligence report about the illegal refinery situated around Iwofe, Rumuolumeni area of Port Harcourt.

    “Troops arriving at the site discovered 24 metallic tanks with each containing 60,000 litres of petroleum product suspected to be illegally refined diesel.

    “Similarly, we discovered wooden boats with 150,000 litres of diesel believed to be stolen diesel.

    “The petroleum product was evacuated to a safe location before troops destroyed the illegal refinery using a Swamp Buggy machine which completely crushed the metallic tanks.

    “This new strategy is part of our efforts to end current air pollution in Port Harcourt while making it difficult for oil thieves to revive illegal refineries after it was destroyed,” he said.

    The commander said the use of “Swamp Buggy” was part of tactics which involved complete crushing of metal tanks rather than setting both storage tanks and petroleum products ablaze.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new strategy was adopted following reports that burning of illegal refineries was partly responsible for current air pollution in Port Harcourt.

    The Swamp Buggy strategy adopted by the navy replaces a former approach which involved setting ablaze illegal refineries and illegal bunker sites with its petroleum products.

    Kayoda said the navy was committed to protecting the environment and health of residents and assured that it would carry out its mandate in line with standard practice.

    “The Nigerian Navy will sustain this strategy until we bring this menace to a stop because the economic prosperity of the nation cannot be compromised to criminal individuals and groups.

    “Operation Rivers Sweep which was concluded in February and being consolidated with ongoing Operation White Valentine are part of efforts to stop illegal bunkering and oil theft,” he said.

    Also speaking during destruction exercise, Prof. Roseline Konya, the Rivers Commissioner of Environment, said the Rivers Government had setup a task force which was mandated to discover and stop the source of the air pollution.

    She said that Gov. Nyesom Wike had given the task force a matching order to locate the source of the air pollution which causes lung infection and cancer.

    “We have seen that the military were in the past burning illegal refineries partly because they had no alternatives.

    “We are glad to witness that they no longer burn illegal refineries; but destroy the sites by removing illegally refined petroleum products before they crush storage tanks with Swap Buggy machines.

    “The Rivers government is pleading with individuals organisations such as the Army and Navy to assist us locate and eradicate the source of the soot,” she said.

    Konya, who is chairperson of the task force, commended the navy on the new Swamp Buggy strategy.