Nigeria Police bust illegal refinery, arrest four suspects

Operatives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering (IGP-STFPIB) have busted an illegal petroleum refinery in Rivers State.

A statement issued on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the operation took place on Thursday when the operatives of the IGP-STFPIB in collaboration officers of the Rivers Command stormed the Trans Amadi area of Port-Harcourt the Rivers capital.

The statement said the operation followed 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 reemphasized 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.