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About 13 illegal refineries have been destroyed by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Rivers State.
The State Command of the NSCDC said this was in line with its efforts to wipe off oil theft, bunkering and other illegal activities from the oil-rich Niger Delta.
The anti-vandal squad of the command had visited the illegal refining sites located in the creeks of B-Dere community in Gokana Local Government Area, setting ablaze seven illegal refineries.

It also moved to Bolo Creek in Ogu/Bolo LGA where it burnt down six of the illegal refineries and oil dumps, bringing the total number to 13.
In the operation that lasted for about five hours at the heart of B-Dere/Bolo creeks, the team also destroyed four boats, two flying-boats and two mangala boats used by the vandals in their activities.

Earlier in the raid, some persons suspected to be operators of the illegal refineries at the visited sites had clashed with the NSCDC officers.

The gunmen had engaged the security operatives in a shootout before escaping for safety having been overpowered by the anti-vandal team, although no casualty was recorded.

Speaking to newsmen after the operations, the Commandant of NSCDC Rivers State Command, Helen Amakiri, said it located the illegal refineries through its intelligence gathering and reports.