Mr Chike Ikpeawonwu, the Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps,
NSCDC, Edo Command has disclosed that seven illegal refineries were destroyed in Edo State between January
and November 2013,
Three of the
refineries were destroyed in Iluoke and three in Agbede, both in Etsako
West Local Government Area while one was destroyed at Abudu, in
Orhionwon Local Government Area.
About the same period the commandant also disclosed that 15 out of the 25 trucks loaded with crude from
vandalised pipelines which were confiscated were also destroyed before directive stopping the burning of trucks was given to avoid economic waste
Ikpeawonwu said:-
“There is a standing order from Abuja that any truck impounded should not be burnt again, in order to avoid economic waste,”The commandant suggested that to reduce pipeline vandalism in the country, Government should build more refineries.
“Our mandate is to protect government critical infrastructures and that is exactly what we are doing now.
“Nigeria is losing billions of Naira to pipeline vandalism and we must ensure that activities of these vandals are contained.
“It is very sad to know that individuals can sabotage government efforts just to get themselves rich through pipeline vandalism,” he said.
