Thousands of liters of illegal crude oil have been uncovered in a bakery at Rumuchruchi, in Obio/Okpor local government area of Rivers State by men of Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC.
Addressing journalists at the scene of the discovery, the commandant of NSCDC, Rivers State command, Joachim Okafor, explained that the crude oil was stored in several GP Tanks and the suspects took to their heels on sighting the anti vandal tactical team of the command.
Inside the bakery were different sizes of storage facilities used in stocking the liquid gold.
The NSCDC came with a sewage truck to evacuate the product, with joint security personnel safeguarding the premises.
Briefing journalists on the spot of the discovery, the unit’s second in command, Lessor Reuben, who represented the NSCDC Rivers State Boss, Joachim Okafor, stated that discovering the bakery was made possible through guided intelligence.
He said no suspect was arrested as they fled when they saw the command’s personnel, adding that the recovered crude and the premises being used for the suspected illegal trade will be forfeited to the federal government after thorough investigation.
The NSCDC used the opportunity to appeal to people in the Niger Delta to report activities of oil thieves to the agency, promising that their identities will be protected.
(Editor: Okechukwu Eze)
