NSCDC Nabs Five Suspected Oil Thieves, Impounds Nine Vehicles with 15,000 Litres of AGO in Rivers
Nelson Chidiebere
The operatives of the Anti-Vandal Unit, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC), Rivers State Command have arrested five (5) suspects over alleged involvement in illegal dealings in petroleum products.
The State Commandant of the Corps, Basil Igwebueze, while briefing newsmen at the Command Headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday, noted that the arrests were made in different locations across the state.
Igwebueze, in a statement by the Commands spokesman, Olufemi Ayodele, noted that some of the five(5) suspects named: Abdulrasheed Nuhu(M), 25years, Hussaini Ciroma (M), 24years, Shamsudeen Umar (M), 23years, Al-Amina Ismaila(M), 19years, Ibrahim Usman(M), 23years, were arrested at Alesa-Eleme Okrika road, Eleme Local Government for laying galvanized pipes close to NNPC/PPMC line/right of way.
While others were arrested at East-West Road in Eleme LGA, Iwofe Road, Rumuelimini in Obio/Akpor LGA, Station Road, Water Font in Elelenwo Community, Okehi Town in Etche LGA, Location Flyover Mgbuoba Community, New Road off Ada George and Eagle Island Jetty Port Harcourt.
Similarly, the Commandant said his operatives impounded nine vehicles while trying to smuggle 15,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil(AGO). He disclosed that a preliminary investigation report revealed that the suspects carried out the act to siphon petroleum products from the pipeline at late hours of the night.
He said: “The following vehicles were impounded: a Toyota Camry Car LAGOS EJ297LSD with 1600litress of AGO, A red Mazda Saloon Car LAGOS DN 30 APP in a conveyance of 1,000 litres of AGO concealed in cellophane bags, Toyota Sienna Car RIVERS NDN 797 GM conveying 2,500litres of AGO, a white tricycle bus with registration number BRR 553 XA conveying 500litres of AGO, a Blue Selica Saloon Car RIVERS PHC 506 HK abandoned with 1,700 litres of AGO concealed in a cellophane bag; a Blue & White colored Volkswagen Saloon Car RIVERS PHC KNM 111 XA with 1,200 litres of AGO, a Black Nissan Pathfinder Jeep RIVERS PHC 853 KK WITH 3,000 litres of AGO, a Dark Grey Volkswagen Car RIVERS PBT 531 SY with 1,000 litres of AGO and a Green colour Toyota Camry ABUJA ABJ 611 JN laden with 2,500 litres of AGO
” This Command under my watch will continue to fight relentlessly the activities of illegal oil bunkers in the state.
” It is high time the perpetrators turned a new leaf by engaging in legal ventures, instead of their continuous involvement in sabotaging the Nation’s economy.”
The Commandant, however, said that the suspects would be charged to court at the end of a thorough investigation and the contents and the mode of conveyance would be forfeited and proceeds remitted to the Proceeds Of Crime Account (POCA)
