Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have uncovered an illegal crude oil storage facility in Igwuruta, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The discovery, made by the Corps’ Anti-Vandal Unit, followed several days of intelligence gathering before a coordinated raid on the location. According to officials, the site was being used to store large quantities of suspected stolen crude oil siphoned from vandalised pipelines.
The Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Command, Ihemnacho Umeado, disclosed that the substances were kept in GP tanks, pending further illegal processing or distribution. He noted that the exact volume of crude recovered is yet to be determined.
Describing the operation, the NSCDC said the warehouse was located in an isolated area, suggesting deliberate concealment by those behind the illegal activity. The agency reiterated that the bust was part of its ongoing efforts to combat oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the region.
The State Commandant, Joachin Okafor, visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment and reaffirmed the Corps’ zero tolerance for illegal bunkering. He stressed that the command remains committed to identifying and prosecuting all individuals involved, regardless of their status.
Okafor highlighted the broader implications of crude oil theft, describing it as a form of economic sabotage with severe environmental consequences. He warned that such activities not only undermine national revenue but also damage ecosystems and threaten the livelihoods of local communities.
He further directed the NSCDC Intelligence Department to carry out a comprehensive investigation to trace the source of the crude and apprehend those responsible.
The Commandant also issued a stern warning to oil vandals operating in the state, urging them to desist or face the full weight of the law.
The latest operation adds to previous enforcement efforts by the Corps. In 2024, NSCDC operatives dismantled a similar illegal oil dump in the Igbo-Etche area of Etche Local Government Area, where over 70 storage tanks containing adulterated petroleum products were discovered at an abandoned construction site.
