Fidelia Okafor.

An illegal refinery has been destroyed at Obazagbon near Ehor in Uhumwode Local Government Area of Edo State.

Brig.-Gen Ibrahim Garba, Commandant, 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army , led the Operation Thunderstorm Special Force to destroy illegal oil refinery camp in the area.

Garba commended members of the public for their useful information which led to the discovery of the camp and urged them to continue to avail the security agencies of such information.

He also advised the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), to install sensors on its oil pipes or use Air Force helicopters for their surveillance.

He said the special force put in place by the army will not tolerate the sabotage of the economy by mischievous individuals, adding, “we will continue to haunt them till they change.”

Members of the force and reporters went to 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 said 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.

He called on all relevant agencies in the oil sector to join hands with the force to salvage the situation.

The force arrested a man and a woman and set the illegal refinery ablaze.