The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has confirmed the arrest of nine people accused of oil theft in Rivers State.
Babawale Afolabi, the NSCDC Public Relations Officer (PRO), confirmed this in a news statement published Monday in Abuja.
According to the announcement, the suspects were apprehended in an unauthorised refinery in a forest area along the boundary between Rivers and Abia states.
They also discovered a local refinery under construction with the potential to produce 60,000 litres of oil at once.
Large hoses and galvanised metal pipes were visible at the vast illicit bunkery, used to transport stolen petroleum across processing channels.
He identified the individuals detained as Oghene Wede (M), 32; Moses James (M), 25; Chidi Nwosu (M), 53; and Samuel John (M), 24.
Others include 20-year-old Emmanuel Paul (M), 43-year-old Oghenevo Nwebi (M), 38-year-old Martina Whinny Peter (F), 41-year-old Nwabuchi Nwogu (M), and 20-year-old David Okere (M).
He stated that the investigation had commenced and that the individuals will eventually face charges in court.
Afolabi went on to say that the huge location had more than 15 modular ovens, 4 fabricated reservoirs, and 30 excavated pits for holding processed AGO.
