Soldiers serving under the Operation Thunderstorm have destroyed two illegal refineries found in the forest of Egono and Agbede villages in Estako West Local Government Area of Edo.
Operators of the illegal refineries fled when they got wind that security operative, who acted on a tip-off, were on their trail.
The two illegal refineries was said to have been located 5km into the forest.
Found at the site were hosepipes used to convey crude obtained from vandalised pipelines to the spot where the product was refined.
Also discovered at one of the refineries were about 100 drums, some filled with crude and some already refined.
A source told newsmen that it was a relative of one the workers at the illegal refineries that reported the illegal activities to officials of Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC).
One of the workers was said to have died at the site but was not allegedly taken proper care of which prompted one of his relative to report the matter to the PPMC.
Acting Commander of Operation Thunderstorm, Major Mohammed Abubarkar, who led the soldiers on the mission called for information on operation of such refineries.
“We received information that these things are going on so we came to destroy it even though we didn’t make any arrest. It is our duty to destroy it. We want to advice people to give us information always,” he said.
