NSCDC crude oil warehouse Rivers operation uncovers illegal oil storage in Ikwerre as authorities intensify crackdown on pipeline vandalism

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has uncovered a warehouse allegedly used for storing stolen crude oil in Igwuruta, Rivers State.

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The discovery was made by operatives of the corps’ Anti-Vandal Unit following days of intelligence gathering, according to the command’s spokesperson, Ihemnacho Umeado.

Umeado disclosed in a statement issued in Port Harcourt that the facility was being used to store substances suspected to be crude oil siphoned from vandalised pipelines.

According to the NSCDC, the stolen crude was stored in large GP tanks, awaiting further illegal processing or distribution.

“This discovery took several days of credible intelligence gathering before subsequent and swift raiding of the crime scene,” the statement said.

Although the exact quantity of crude oil recovered has not yet been determined, officials described the site as a “vast isolated confinement” used for illicit activities.

The State Commandant, Joachin Okafor, who conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the facility, reaffirmed the corps’ zero tolerance for illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism.

Okafor warned that the command would intensify efforts to track down those behind such acts of economic sabotage, regardless of their status.

“We will leave no stone unturned in tracking and arresting perpetrators of these crimes,” he said.

He further highlighted the environmental and economic damage caused by illegal oil activities, noting their negative impact on biodiversity and national revenue.

The commandant has directed the corps’ Intelligence Department to launch a full-scale investigation to determine the source of the crude oil and identify those responsible.

Authorities also issued a stern warning to vandals and illegal bunkerers to desist or face the full weight of the law.

The latest operation underscores ongoing efforts by security agencies to clamp down on oil theft in the Niger Delta, a region long plagued by pipeline vandalism and illicit refining activities.

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The NSCDC had in 2024 similarly uncovered an illegal oil dump site in Igbo-Etche, where a truck carrying adulterated petroleum products was seized and over 70 storage tanks were discovered at an abandoned construction site.