The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC) Akwa Ibom State Command has clamped down an illegal oil refinery in Obo Ikot Ita in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of the State
Penpushing reports that, the Commandant of the Corps, Abidemi Majekodunmi led a team of operatives to the illegal refinery site, on Saturday, allegedly owned by Mr Glory Amos, while the discovery followed intelligence gathering by the command.
The Command in a statement by its Acting Public Relations Officer, Ekerete Friday said the suspect, a self acclaimed Doctor operates from the backyard of a four bedroom flat, adding that exhibits gathered include, refines and produces engine oil.
‘The clampdown followed from weeks of intelligence gathering on suspicious movement of petroleum products in and out of the suspected building which was diligently verified by our personnel’, the statement said.
Penpushing further reports that, the command on storming the building, discovered a very large constructed iron contraption containing cooked (crudely refined) engine oil sitting on a fire bed, while the extra large container contained a substantial volume of ‘engine oil’ and affixed with a valve for dispensing the ‘refined lubricant’.
‘There were other locally constructed set of pots and drums linked with pipes, typical of local refineries in the illegal factory. There were some drums and basins which had contents of the illegally refined lubricant which the suspect admitted to producing. There was also a sieve and a large pile of firewood used for fueling the cracking processes, the statement added.
Penpushing also reports that, the team discovered an underground tank in the front of the building disguised as a well, and the suspect was asked to draw out the liquid content in the underground tank, which turned out to be suspected petroleum product mixed with water.
‘Beyond the illegal refining of petroleum products, the suspect also engages in the production of balms, dry gins, creams, and drugs. These items, especially the drugs were sighted in significantly large quantities’.
Penpushing reports that, the command explained that the illegal products were already packaged for market and human consumption, without the approval from the National Agency for Food, Drugs (NAFDAC)
The commandant during an interview with journalists said the command invited officials of the National Agency for Food Drugs(NAFDAC) to the crime scene and they have taken samples of the various drugs for laboratory tests.
‘Other pharmaceutical exhibits like vials, which were found in very large quantities were also taken as exhibits. The suspect, who claimed to be an homeopathic Doctor could not produce any license to operate his laboratory in the same compound used for the illegal refining’, he said.
Penpushing further reports that, Majekodunmi condemned the heinous acts of the suspect in totality, underscoring the unquantifiable collateral damage the badly refined lubricant he produces does to cars, generators and other machineries with serious implications for the economy.
The Commandant enjoined citizens to always volunteer intelligence to security agencies, assuring them of high confidentiality, adding that attempt by some hoodlums to set free the suspects was repelled by the team.
Penpushing also reports that, Majekodunmi disclosed that, as at the time of filing this report, the principal suspect (Amos Glory), and another suspect, Mrs Mfon Udo found with him are in custody, as investigation continues
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