Two revamped oil bunkering camps in Egbema West, Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State have been uncovered and destroyed.
The operation was carried out by the joint effort of operatives of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in synergy with TANTITA Security Services.
The development was made known by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement he made available to newsmen.
Nwachukwu said the troops completely shut down the illegal refining site containing 44 drums, three reservoirs of estimated 30,000 litres capacity of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 53 sacks of AGO.
In addition, four active illegal refining camps in Opumami Community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State were destroyed by the combined team.
“The anti-oil theft operatives destroyed three wooden boats, six ovens, six reservoirs, 11 drums containing illegally refined AGO, one large reservoir loaded with stolen crude oil, 38 sacks of stolen crude oil and two tapping hoses,” the statement said.
In another development, seventeen people are yet to be accounted for after a boat conveying 23 people capsized in Adamawa State.
A local boat conveying locals capsized in Njuwa Lake across Rugange village in Yola South Local Government Area, according to a witness, Faisal Dabo Rugange, who said the incident happened earlier in the day, Friday when the victims were going to Yola town for their local businesses.
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“It was raining when the accident happened. A heavy windstorm blew water into the boat and it capsized instantly,” Faisal said.
He added that although the local boat was carrying more than 20 passengers, only six were rescued by local divers and a bigger boat which arrived at the scene.
Faisal who complained of perennial suffering by the Rugange community as a result of overflow by large volumes of water along the River Benue, said the people need bigger engine boats.
The Executive Secretary, Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, Mohamed Suleiman, said one person died, five were rescued and 17 others were yet to be seen.
Also speaking on the incident, the Adamawa State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, said the command had deployed Marine police officers to help in the rescue operation.
He added that the actual number of those on board had not been ascertained as the rescue operation was still on.