The Nigerian Police have disclosed that they have seized 40,000 litres of stolen petroleum products, stored in 67 white storage tanks in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
This was as the Police have also arrested four suspects over alleged oil theft, illegal bunkering and economic sabotage.
The four suspects were arrested by a Police team at Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while a storage facility used in dealing and processing illegally acquired crude oil was also discovered in the area.
The suspects were arrested on September 12, 2024, by operatives of the IGP Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering (IGP-STFPIB), in collaboration with the Department of Operations, Rivers State Police Command.
Force Spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made this known in a statement issued on Friday. He noted that the team also discovered a storage facility used in dealing and processing illegally-acquired crude oil in the area.
According to him, arrested suspects were Emmanuel Nwachi, Adamu Bala, Nura Musa and Bashir Abubakar.
“The operatives of the IGP Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering (IGP-STFPIB) have once again made a significant breakthrough in the continuous fight against oil theft, illegal bunkering and economic sabotage.
“This milestone achievement was marked after the operatives, in collaboration with the Department of Operations, Rivers State Command, on 12 September 2024, made discovery of a storage facility in Trans Amadi, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, used in dealing and processing illegally-acquired crude oil.
“This operation had led to the arrest of four (4) suspects namely; Emmanuel Nwachi ‘m’ 58 years; Adamu Bala ‘m’ 35 years; Nura Musa ‘m’ 22 years; Bashir Abubakar ‘m’ 28 years, and the recovery of 40,000 litres of petroleum products, stored in 67 white storage tanks.
“The team however destroyed the site and recovered the equipment and machines used in committing these crimes.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has re-emphasised 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,” Adejobi stated in the statement.
