NSCDC Abia Command destroys ten illegal modular refineries
By Emmanuel Kehinde, ilorin
The Abia State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has destroyed ten illegal Modular Refineries operating in Okohia and Owaza Oil bearing Communities of the state.
The state Commandant of the corps, Ayinla Olowo disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Umuahia on the Command’s strategic efforts to clampdown on dealers of illegal petroleum products and refineries in the state.
Commandant Olowo said the Command’s efforts paid off when its operation made a major break through in seven hours operation at Okohia and Owaza in Okwa-West Local Government Area of the state.
According to him, the first thing his team did was to destroy the pipes supplying products from Shell Petroleum Pipelines to the ten Cooking Pots used for the refining of crude inside the forest before setting six of the pots ablaze while four were left to avoid fire that could cause collateral damage to farmland, economic trees and major Shell Pipelines
Commandant Olowo who noted that the Command had succeeded in frustrating and putting an end to the activities of the operators of the illegal refineries, regretted that the operators fled the area before the operatives arrived at the place.
The State Commandant commended his operatives for executing the operation professionally which had helped to prevent fire and other forms of Environmental Pollution in the area.
Commandant Olowo reiterated that the current leadership of the Corps under the Commandant General, Ahmed Audu has zero tolerance for vandalism and illegal dealings in petroleum products.
He admonished the youth of the area to engage themselves in legitimate means of livelihood and avoid crime and criminality as the the idea behind the operation is to put both the sellers and the buyers of stolen Petroleum Products out of business.
Commandant Olowo therefore assured that the Command is into partner with natives to fish out bad eggs among them.
Edited by Felix Ajide
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