The operatives of the Inspector General of Police, Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering (IGP-STFPIB) have uncovered illegal petroleum refinery in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, at a News conference in Abuja described this findings as a significant breakthrough in the continuous fight against oil theft, illegal bunkering and economic sabotage.

GALAXY TV reports that Adejobi said the milestone achievement was marked after the operatives, in collaboration with the Department of Operations, Rivers State Command, on September 12, 2024, made discovery of a storage facility in Trans Amadi, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, used in dealing and processing illegally acquired Crude oil.

The Force Public Relations Officer said the operation led to the arrest of four suspects namely; Emmanuel Nwachi, 58 years; Adamu Bala ‘m’ 35 years; Nura Musa, 22 years; Bashir Abubakar, 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 Force PRO further stated that 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 said it remains unyielding and will continue to bring these perpetrators to book.