Abia State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) yesterday lamented the high rate of illegal Oil activities in the state saying that it discovered many illegal refineries in many oil-producing communities in the state.

State Commandant, Ayinla Olowo, made this known during a media briefing at the its headquarters in Umuahia, citing Okehia/Owaza axis in Ukwa West Council as the location where illegal bunkering operations thrive.

He said the operation sites were discovered during a sting operation conducted by the command’s Anti-Vandalism Team, adding that 10 cooking pots and disconnected pipes, which the vandals connected to the Shell Pipelines to siphon products illegally, were recovered

“The operation lasted over seven hours and with the competence of men of the command, fire outbreak and other forms of environmental pollution in the area were prevented.

“It was a big task for our men, especially as we observed that legitimate farming activities were ongoing in the area”.