The Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers Command, Lawal Haruna, says its personnel have apprehended two people for allegedly vandalising an oil pipeline and operating illegal refineries.

According to Ceoafrica, this was disclosed today in Port Harcourt at a news conference.

Haruna, who led the operation, said that the suspects were arrested at Amabiukiri Creek in Okrika Local Government Area, adding that five functional illegal refineries and five others under construction were destroyed by the Command.

He said the continuous construction of illegal refineries was an indication that pipeline vandals were not prepared to abandon the crime, and therefore advised them to key into the laudable economic policies the Federal and State Governments had floated for unemployed youths.

Haruna, whom until his transfer to Rivers, was Commandant, Anti-Vandalism unit, Abuja, said that the operation was thoroughly planned and executed, and also hinted that the move followed intelligence report about the illegal refineries in the Amabukiri creek.