Metro

Army Recovers One Million Litres Of Crude In Rivers

Published

2 years ago

February 23, 2024

The Nigerian Army, 6 Division Garrison in Port Harcourt has busted an illegal crude oil refining site in a forest in Odagwe community, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.

This is coming barely three days after the Nigerian Navy said its operatives busted an illegal oil refining site filled with 750,000 litres of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil also known as diesel in Abonema Wharf in the Port Harcourt area of the state.

The army during an operation against oil theft and illegal oil bunkering led by the Commander, 6 Division Garrison and Sector 3, Operation Delta Safe, Brigadier General Eddie Effiong recovered one million litres of crude oil.

Also uncovered in the community forest were eight crude oil reservoirs and five boilers both containing over one million litres of stolen crude.

Effiong, who spoke to newsmen shortly after the operation on Friday, said the discovery followed a tip-off, pointing out that each of the reservoirs contained about 100,000 litres of crude.

Brigadier General Effiong said the perpetrators were trying to refine the crude into Automated Gas Oil popularly known as diesel before operatives stormed the site.

He stated, “In continuation of the fight against crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering, we got a tip-off from our contacts that illegal oil refinery has commenced on the opposite side of this road after we destroyed them on the other side.

“The oil thieves have relocated here and then reestablished their illegal refineries and continue their illegal activities.

“Coming here today, we found out that they have truly relocated to the right side and reestablished their illegal refining sites and they are still trying to establish more sites.

“In this reestablished illegal refining site, we have discovered eight reservoirs and five cooking pots. And from our gathering, the minimum quantity of crude in each reservoir is nothing less than 100,000 litres of stolen crude that is about to be refined into AGO.”

The Garrison Commander assured that the division would not rest on its laurels until the fight against illegal oil bunkering and oil theft in the Niger Delta region is won.

He noted that the division would also deploy the non-kinetic approach such as dialogue in tackling illicit activities by appealing to the consciences of community heads and youth leaders through regular seminars, amongst others.

Brigadier General Effiong added, “We are also trying our best to discourage them through their village heads and youth leaders, talking to them.

“We all know what crude oil is to the Nigerian economy. Everyone in the country is feeling the impact of the economy presently, and the more they do this, it is also going to negatively impact all of us.”

He advised all those involved in sabotaging the nation within the state and other parts of the Niger Delta region to turn a new leaf and look for decent means of earning a living.

“Yes, things are hard but that shouldn’t push us into criminality, because our country is bleeding and if we keep doing this, we will keep bleeding the more and everybody will feel it,” he added.

Metro

Six Killed, Nine Injured In Fatal Crash On Lekki–Epe Expressway

Published

37 minutes ago

September 1, 2025

Editor

Six people were confirmed dead, and nine others sustained injuries in a road accident at Ibeju Bus Stop along the Lekki–Epe Expressway in Lagos State.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority said the crash occurred on Monday when a blue Volvo FL6 truck loaded with wooden planks rammed into a white commercial bus with registration number AKD 336 YD.

The fatalities included two men, three women, and a child. Four other occupants of the bus escaped unhurt.

LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, said officials, with support from other emergency responders, swiftly rescued the survivors.

“The nine injured survivors were swiftly extricated by LASTMA officials with support from other emergency responders and immediately conveyed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Epe and Hammond Hospital for urgent medical attention.”

He added that LASTMA worked in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps to evacuate victims and clear the accident scene.

LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, condoled with the bereaved families and cautioned motorists against reckless driving, particularly overspeeding. He urged drivers to remain vigilant, obey traffic laws, and avoid distractions, especially during the Ember Months, a period known for frequent road crashes.

He added that the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the FMC morgue in Epe, awaiting formal identification by their families.

Taofiq said the four unhurt survivors received immediate attention from the LASTMA Rescue Unit, working with other agencies.

Metro

NSCDC Arrests 84-year-old, Teenager For Vandalism

Published

1 hour ago

September 1, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Gombe State Command, has paraded an 84-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy arrested for alleged vandalism of transmission power cables in the state.

Addressing journalists at a press briefing on Monday, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Superintendent of Corps Buhari Saad, who represented the State Commandant, Jibril Idris, said the duo were apprehended with several meters of vandalised aluminium cables.

According to him, the suspects, identified as Salisu Muhammad, 84, of Anguwa Idi, Gombe, a scrap marketer, and Muhammad Tahiru Babayo, 14, of Anguwa Dawaki, Gombe, a welder and fabricator, were caught with the items at Salisu’s shop located in Anguwa Uku.

“The two were involved in the act of vandalism and were caught with critical national assets, transmission power cables.

“They will be charged to court for vandalism and unlawful possession of vandalised items,” the commandant stated.

The NSCDC boss noted that the arrest was part of renewed efforts by the command to protect critical national infrastructure from criminals who target public utilities for selfish gains.

He warned vandals to desist from the illegal act or leave the state entirely, stressing that the command will continue to track and apprehend perpetrators of such crimes.

“We want to strongly warn vandals to steer clear of Gombe State. We will get them wherever they are.

“Security agencies are determined, but we also urge citizens to report suspicious activities because security personnel are not spirits and cannot be everywhere,” he added.

Metro

Father, Son, 72-year-old Arrested For Defiling Minors

Published

1 hour ago

September 1, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on Monday paraded a father and son over the rape of a 13-year-old girl.

The father, Ibrahim Haruna, a 48-year-old and his 15-year-old son, Abdusalam Ibrahim, were identified as suspects.

Parading the suspects at the command’s headquarters in Gombe, the Public Relations Officer, SC Buhari Saad, decried the spate of kidnapping in the state.

He said, “The second category of people that we have, we have three suspects that are involved in rape, gross indecency and defilement.

“They are, one, Ibrahim Haruna, aged 48, of Jekarifari. He is a tailor by occupation. We also have Abdusalam Ibrahim, aged 15, of Jekadefari.

“The two people were involved in some acts of rape, gross indecency and defilement.

“It’s now a worrisome pattern; the case of rape is taking place in the state. The father has been committing this act of rape at his shop, while the son usually takes his turns at their residence. They took advantage of the young girl who is 13 years old.

“She happens to be their neighbour who has some mental illness. So they took advantage of her and have been raping her serially.”

Also paraded was 72-year-old Balarabe Suleiman, from Yelanguruza, who was alleged to have lured a 13-year-old girl into his car and raped her serially.

“He’s been giving her the sum of N200 for every act. And in this instance, it is the lady, the young girl, who became tired of his escapade and informed her parents. The case is still under investigation”, he added.