From Edo State, CEOAFRICA.com gathered that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Edo State Command, have destroyed seven illegal refineries in the state, between January and November 2013.

Revealing this to newsmen in Benin, the State Commandant of the Corps Chike Ikpeawonwu, said three of the refineries were destroyed in Iluoke and three in Agbede, both in Etsako West Local Government Area while one was destroyed at Abudu in Orhionwon Local Government Area.

It was also revealed by the Commandant that the sector also confiscated 25 trucks loaded with crude oil within the same period, although they were destroyed before the standing warning of non-destruction of impounded trucks was issued.

“There is a standing order from Abuja that any truck impounded should not be burnt again, in order to avoid economic waste,’’ he said.

He called for synergy between NSCDC and other security agencies in the state for effective war against pipeline vandalism.

Mr Ikpeawonwu said one way of reducing pipeline vandalism in the country, was by building more refineries.

“Our mandate is to protect government critical infrastructures and that is exactly what we are doing now.

“Nigeria is losing billions of naira to pipeline vandalism and we must ensure that activities of these vandals are contained.

“It is very sad to know that individuals can sabotage government efforts just to get themselves rich through pipeline vandalism,” he said.