Joint Security Taskforce uncovers, sets ablaze illegal petroleum in Anambra

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

A Joint security taskforce that composed of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Soldiers from 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, Police and Navy, has allegedly uncovered mini illegal oil refinery film, Transtell Company and Envoy  in Ogbaru, Anambra State, evacuated the oil and set it ablaze.

 The Chief Security Officer of the company, Mr. Ralph Njoku, while confirming the evacuation of the product to where it was burnt, exonerated soldiers of 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, of any sort of physical  attack, and removal of products as earlier claimed in a social media platform.

He made the exoneration in reaction to the social media report which claimed that soldiers from the 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, molested and threatened staff of the company, and also took away the company’s vegetable oil products worth N200,000,000.

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Recall that the social media claimed that soldiers stormed the facility of the company located at No. 20 GMO road, Atani Industrial Layout, near Onitsha, chased workers away, held the company’s security men hostage before taking away the company’s oil products worth about N200m to an unknown place.

Fielding questions from newsmen the security man stated, “I was surprised when I came across the news that personnel of the Nigerian Army invaded our facility and carted away with our products worth millions of naira. Nothing like that happened in the Transtell factory.

“What actually happened was that personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in the company of other security agencies, evacuated and destroyed crude found in our company. That evacuation of suspected crude was monitored by our company’s security men, including myself, who is the Chief Security Officer. 

“Besides what I’ve just said, nothing in the Transtell factory was tampered with; nobody was molested, and no facility was vandalized. That particular social media report was, to say the least, mischievous, misleading, damaging and untrue.”

Meanwhile, a Joint Task Force comprising the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Chief of Defence Staff Committee on Vandalization, has destroyed tons of crude petroleum after uncovering an alleged mini illegal refinery operated by one Transtell Company and Envoy Group in Onitsha.

Personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) through intelligence, stormed the facility with other security agencies, and subsequently evacuated the crude petroleum after discovering what appeared to be an illegal refinery run within the premises of the company where vegetable oil is also produced.

The joint task force, thereafter, moved truck loads of the crude to a safe place within the second Niger Bridge area – where it was destroyed, as the company is located within a residential area, to serve as deterrent to others who might want to commit similar crime.

The spokesperson of the joint task force, Assistant Commandant Chinweze Chinenye, who is the O/C Operation, NSCDC, Anambra state command, accused the company of pretending that they produce only  palm kernel and veritable oil when its major business is illegal mini oil refinery disclosing that, “When the JTF stormed the premises, it was discovered that the factory also operates what could be called illegal refinery within the facility.

“They said that they produce veritable oil, palm kernel oil and others, but at the back of the factory, we discovered crude and refined low density oil in very large quantities. That proved that they also run an illegal refinery,” he said.

Chinweze, who represented the Anambra state Commandant of NSCDC, Mr. Maku Adekunle, said though no arrests were made, yet, investigations would continue until they arrive at the root of the matter.