The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kano State Command, has uncovered an illegal diesel refining site in Panisau, Ungogo Local Government Area, and arrested five suspects.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Idris-Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Kano.
He said the suspects were arrested during an operation involving personnel from the command’s Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Department, Oil and Gas, Armed Squad and Anti-Vandalism Unit.
The suspects were identified as Ibrahim Bello, 28; Musbahu Adam, 38; Rabiu Dahiru, 27; Haruna Kabiru, 26; and Sunusi Ahmad, 25.
Idris-Abdullahi said the suspects were allegedly operating an unregistered and illegal oil and gas business.
He said the operation was part of the command’s efforts to combat economic sabotage, protect the environment and enforce regulations governing the oil and gas sector.
According to him, the illegal refining site has been sealed, while investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the activities and determine appropriate legal action against the suspects.
The NSCDC spokesperson warned that illegal refining posed serious threats to public safety and the environment through pollution, environmental degradation and other hazards.
He added that such activities undermined legitimate economic operations and threatened the nation’s economic interests.
Idris-Abdullahi said the command, under the leadership of Hassan Mohammed-Agalama, remained committed to combating activities that threaten public safety, environmental sustainability and national economic security.
He urged members of the public to report suspicious activities to security agencies, assuring that investigations would be conducted diligently and anyone found culpable would face the law.
