By Ola Fadoju
The Inspector-General of Police Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering has busted an illegal petroleum refining operation in Edo State.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the operation and achievement happened on 7th August 2022.
Adejobi said: “The operation came on the heels of intelligence reports of activities of an alleged illicit petroleum products refining syndicate operating adjacent to Agbor Junction, Benin City, Edo State via a whistleblower through the recently created Nigeria National Petroleum Company’s (NNPC) Command and Control Centre Portal. Following the raid on the illegal petroleum refining site, three empty DAF Trucks, and 31 immovable Surface Tanks -seven of which were loaded with an unspecified quantity of petroleum products, were discovered by the Police. Furthermore, two suspects, Chinedu Iyanabor, 18 and Sunday Iyagbesun, 52, were arrested during the raid. Preliminary investigations reveal the site was also used as a dump site for petroleum products. Upon conclusion of the investigations, all suspects will be charged to the court.”
