The Police in Edo State have uncovered an illegal oil refinery enclave in Etsako West LGA of Edo state said to have been in operation for years even as 6 persons were arrested in connection with the illegal act.
Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, who made the disclosure noted that his men uncovered the 40 illegal refineries at a forest located in Egono community.
Kokumo stated that his men who were carrying out a manhunt for armed robbers and a kidnappers whose hideout was located in the forest when they stumbled on the illegal refineries.
He CP further stated that the illegal refineries were built in separate compartments, some for refining crude oil into kerosene, some for refining crude into PMS and some for refining crude into diesel.
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His words, “The crude oil pipelines that run through the community were ruptured and a pipe was connected to pipelines where they pump crude oil to the drums where it is refined.
“The perpetrators of the illegal refineries dug the earth on several places where they store the refined products before they are filled into gallons and drums.
“My men arrested six persons”.
“I am surprised that the people saddled with the responsibility of protecting the pipelines for NNPC did not discover this damage, which I observed has been existing for years.
“The activities of the operators have taken over the entire village”.
“You can observe that the place has become ravaged.
“From what we have seen, they ferry the products through the river”.
“I have directed my men to take over the entire area for further investigation.”
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