Police raid illegal refinery, arrest four in oil theft crackdown

Operatives from the Inspector General of Police Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering (IGP-STFPIB) have achieved a major breakthrough in their ongoing battle against oil theft, illegal bunkering, and economic sabotage.

On September 12, 2024, in collaboration with the Rivers State Command’s operations department, the team uncovered a storage facility in Trans Amadi, Port-Harcourt, used for processing and dealing with illegally acquired crude oil.

According to a statement from Police Force Relations Officer, ACP Olumiyiwa Adejobi, the operation resulted in the arrest of four suspects—Emmanuel Nwachi (58), Adamu Bala (35), Nura Musa (22), and Bashir Abubakar (28)—and the seizure of 40,000 liters of petroleum products stored in 67 white tanks.

The site was destroyed, and equipment used in the illegal activities was confiscated.

Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, reiterated the force’s dedication to combating crime, criminality, and corruption, including economic sabotage.

The police remain resolute in their efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.