A Nigeria Hunter and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) commandant, Nwanchukwu Adah, has shared his harrowing experience while attempting to stop an illegal oil bunkering operation in Rivers State.
Speaking on Nigeria Info's Morning Crossfire, Adah recalled the moment he sustained third-degree burns after a truck involved in the operation exploded. His attempt to set the truck ablaze led to the accident, leaving him severely injured.
“Trying to set that truck ablaze, the thing exploded and burnt me to 3rd degree,” he said.
Adah went on to describe the alarming extent of pipeline vandalism in the region, explaining that areas with major pipelines in Rivers State have become hotbeds for such illegal activity. According to the NHFSS commandant, illegal oil bunkering has become a way of life for approximately 80% of residents in affected communities, including teenagers, who are drawn to the financial benefits.
He further expressed his deep concern over the disregard for human life by those involved in the illicit trade, shedding light on the dangerous impact of oil bunkering, particularly during fuel shortages when profits for the illegal operators surge.
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