Crime
NSCDC Uncovered Illegal Refinery in Rivers’ Thick Forest
NSCDC Uncovered Illegal Refinery in Rivers’ Thick Forest
By: Michael Mike
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has uncovered another illegal bunkering site were stolen crude oil are channeled to a thick forest Umuedeokwara Community, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. where they are refined.
A press statement on Tuesday by the National Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, Afolabi Babawale said the
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’SIS) uncovered another illegal bunkering site where stolen crude oil was tapped, channelled to reservoirs and refined locally in a thick forest at Umuedeokwara Community, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He said the CG’s SIS Commander, Deputy Commandant Appolos Dandaura, hinted during a media briefing that the squad acted based on sustained intelligence, which revealed that a gang of criminal elements was operating an illegal refinery at the crime scene.
Dandaura said: “Like we always reiterate that our operations are intelligence-based and we value every piece of information and preserve the integrity of our informants; we swung into action, combed the entire forest and discovered where the suspects were refining crude oil locally after storage in large trampoline reservoirs and further packaged them in cellophane bags and sacks.
“These unscrupulous saboteurs connected fabricated and galvanized metallic pipes to the trunk lines of multinational oil pipeline installations with inserted valves; the suspects, however, took to their heels through the creeks due to the terrain upon sighting our men.
“The following exhibits were marked at the crime scene: about 20,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) stored in cellophane bags, large quantities of siphoned crude oil stored in tarpaulin reservoirs, different sizes of aluminium and plastic buckets, galvanized metallic Fabricated pipes, heavy-duty industrial hoses and items of clothing belonging to the suspects”.
Appolos said that the matching order of the Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Audi on the need to smoke out illegal bunkers and effect massive arrests for possible prosecution, frustrate their continuous efforts to sabotage the economy and to increase oil production in the nation; would always be carried out by the squad, adding that “the fight against illegal dealings in petroleum products is without compromise as the CG’SIS will not rest in combating the menace of crude oil theft across board .”
NSCDC Uncovered Illegal Refinery in Rivers’ Thick Forest
Crime
Terrorism: Woman bags 20 years jail term on DSS Charges of Unlawful Possession of 302 Rounds of Live Ammunition
Terrorism: Woman bags 20 years jail term on DSS Charges of Unlawful Possession of 302 Rounds of Live Ammunition
By: Zagazola Makama
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday sentenced a housewife, Halima Haliru Umar, to 20 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of 302 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition and supporting acts of terrorism.
The sentence was handed down by Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa after the defendant pleaded guilty to two out of a four-count charge filed against her by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Justice Yilwa held that the growing menace of banditry and terrorism in the country had become a serious threat to national security and should not be handled with leniency.
The judge noted that although the convict appeared remorseful and pleaded for mercy, offences connected to terrorism and arms trafficking remained grave threats to the safety of citizens.
The court heard that the convict admitted serving as a courier for the transportation of ammunition intended for bandits operating in Plateau State.
During the trial, the first prosecution witness and DSS operative, Fahad Tahir, told the court that the accused was arrested on July 6, 2025, with 302 rounds of AK-47 rifle ammunition and N57,100 cash while allegedly transporting the items to armed bandits in Plateau.
According to Tahir, the defendant made a confessional statement in Hausa language at the DSS Plateau State Command, where she disclosed that one Alhaji Sani had sent her to Zaria in Kaduna State to procure the ammunition from another individual.
The witness further stated that the accused was later transferred to the DSS National Headquarters in Abuja on Aug. 11, 2025, where another interview was conducted in the presence of a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council.
He said the defendant again admitted ownership and transportation of the ammunition and cash exhibits.
The prosecution counsel, Dr. Callistus Samson Ezeh, tendered the 302 rounds of ammunition, the cash sum of N57,100, and the defendant’s statements as exhibits before the court.
The exhibits were admitted without objection from defence counsel, Hamza Dantani.
In open court, the defendant also admitted being in possession of the ammunition and cash at the time of her arrest.
One of the charges stated that the convict knowingly rendered support for acts of terrorism by transporting 302 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition between Katsina and Plateau States, contrary to Section 13(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Another charge accused her of unlawful possession of ammunition contrary to Section 8(1) of the Firearms Act, 2004.
The DSS also accused the defendant of concealing information about suspected gunrunners and kidnappers allegedly linked to terrorist activities.
Following her guilty plea and review of the evidence presented, Justice Yilwa convicted and sentenced the defendant to 20 years imprisonment.
Terrorism: Woman bags 20 years jail term on DSS Charges of Unlawful Possession of 302 Rounds of Live Ammunition
Crime
Troops Discover 7,800 Litres of Stolen Crude Oil in Rivers State
Troops Discover 7,800 Litres of Stolen Crude Oil in Rivers State
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 343 Artillery Regiment (Army) deployed at Oando Oil Company in Omoku have uncovered a large cache of illegally refined crude oil concealed within the riverine area of Ebocha Egi LII in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Security sources said the discovery was made at about 9:40 a.m. on May 13 during a routine patrol and surveillance operation in the area.
The troops reportedly recovered about 7,800 litres of suspected illegally refined crude oil, stored in 130 sacks and concealed along the riverine corridor.
According to the sources , the recovered products were handled in line with existing directives under Operation Delta Safe.
Military authorities stated that follow-up operations were ongoing to track down individuals and networks involved in crude oil theft and illegal refining activities in the region.
Troops Discover 7,800 Litres of Stolen Crude Oil in Rivers State
Crime
Troops Intercept Vehicle Conveying Illegal Diesel in Bayelsa
Troops Intercept Vehicle Conveying Illegal Diesel in Bayelsa
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 16 Brigade Garrison operating under the Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), have intercepted a vehicle conveying about 400 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Security sources said the interception occurred at about 3:10 p.m. on May 12, 2026, along the Oruma–Kolocreek road during ongoing anti-illegal bunkering operations in the area.
According to the sources, the suspect abandoned the vehicle and fled upon sighting the troops approaching the area.
The vehicle and the illegally refined petroleum products were subsequently handled in accordance with operational directives guiding Operation Delta Safe activities.
The military has sustained operations across the Niger Delta to curb crude oil theft, illegal refining and related economic sabotage threatening the nation’s oil infrastructure.
Troops Intercept Vehicle Conveying Illegal Diesel in Bayelsa
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