NSCDC uncovers illegal crude oil storage site in Rivers

Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have uncovered a warehouse used for storing suspected stolen crude oil in Igwuruta, located in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday in Port Harcourt by the command’s spokesperson, Ihemnacho Umeado, the discovery followed days of credible intelligence gathering, which led to a coordinated raid by the Corps’ Anti-Vandal Unit.

Umeado explained that the facility contained an unspecified quantity of crude oil believed to have been siphoned from vandalised pipelines and stored in GP tanks, likely awaiting further illegal processing or distribution.

Describing the operation, he said the site was a secluded location used for warehousing illicit petroleum products, underscoring the growing sophistication of oil theft networks in the region.

The Rivers State Commandant of the NSCDC, Joachin Okafor, who conducted an on-the-spot assessment, reaffirmed the Corps’ firm stance against illegal bunkering.

He stressed that the command remains committed to identifying and prosecuting those involved in economic sabotage, regardless of their status.

Okafor also highlighted the damaging impact of crude oil theft on the nation’s economy and the environment, warning that perpetrators risk severe legal consequences.

He has directed the Intelligence Department to launch a full investigation to trace the origin of the crude oil and apprehend those responsible.

The command further recalled a similar operation in 2024, when NSCDC operatives uncovered another illegal oil dump site in Igbo-Etche, also in Rivers State, where over 70 storage tanks filled with adulterated petroleum products were discovered at an abandoned construction site.