Army’s ‘Ops Thunderstorm’ destroys illegal refinery in Edo

The Nigerian Army’s 4th brigade with headquarters in Benin has destroyed an illegal refinery site at Obazagbon near Ehor in Uhumwode LGA in Edo state

Brig.-Gen Ibrahim Garba, Commander, 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army who led the operation, thereafter urged the National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), to install sensors on its oil pipes or use Air Force helicopters for their surveillance.

Garba commended members of the public for their useful information which led to the discovery of the illegal refinery camp in the area.

The Brigade Commander urged them to continue to avail the security agencies of such useful and patriotic information.

He said the special force put in place by the army will not tolerate the sabotage of the economy by mischievous individuals/

“We will continue to haunt them till they change.”

At the camp and the refining points in the forest, it was observed that the operators of the illegal refineries connected pipes to NNPC’s oil pipes from where they siphoned crude oil for refining and distribution.

Garba assured that his men were more than committed to nip such nefarious acts in the bud.

He noted that the force would not abdicate its responsibility of ridding the state of all forms of criminal activities, economic sabotage, kidnapping, assassination and armed robbery.

Brigadier General Garba called on all relevant agencies in the oil sector to join hands with the force in salvaging the situation.

Two suspects, a man and a woman were arrested and the illegal refinery set ablaze.

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