A team of operatives from the Inspector General of Police’s Special Task Force (IGP-STFPIB) has uncovered an illicit oil refining facility in Rivers State, News About Nigeria reports.
This is contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
Adejobi said the operation was conducted on Thursday when the operatives of the IGP-STFPIB, in collaboration with officers of the Rivers Command, stormed the Trans Amadi area of Port-Harcourt, the Rivers capital.
The police spokesperson said the operation came after the command got information on the discovery of a storage facility used in dealing and processing illegally acquired crude oil in the area.
Olumuyiwa confirmed that at least four suspects linked to the crime have been arrested, stressing that about 40,000 litres of petroleum products, stored in 67 white storage tanks, were recovered.
The suspects include Emmanuel Nwachi, Adamu Bala, Nura Musa, and Bashir Abubakar.
“The team, however, destroyed the site and recovered the equipment and machines used in committing these crimes.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM., has reemphasised the commitment of the Force to tackling every form of crime, criminality, and corruption, extending to those involved in this economic sabotage.
“The Force remains unyielding and will continue to bring these perpetrators to book,” the statement added.
Earlier, the Rivers State Police Command said its men arrested a fake inspector who led an armed robbery gang and neutralised four fleeing suspects involved in the January 2024 murder of a Community Development Committee Chairman of Mgboshimini in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
