Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Rivers State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 54 suspects over allegation of petroleum products stealing.
The NSCDC also seized 12 trucks, three boats, one vessel, two buses and a car from the suspects.
The security agency had also seized 170 drums of adulterated petroleum products from the suspects.
The NSCDC State Commandant, Mr Haruna Mohammed who paraded the suspects Monday said they were picked up at different areas of operation in the state.
The suspects, Mohammed said, were arrested between May and September 2018, adding that the operation was carried out through a synergy with other security agencies.
According to him, the suspects devised various methods of stealing oil.
Mohammed said, “the Anti-vandal Unit of the NSCDC, Rivers State command, in May 2018, arrested 11 suspects. Two fibre boats were seized in Osaka, while two trucks loaded with suspected adulterated AGO (diesel) were confiscated at Mgbuoba, in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“In June 2018, five suspects with four trucks loaded with AGO were also arrested along Okochiri, Okrika LGA, Rivers State. On July 24, 2018, one Chinasa Sunday was arrested in Obagi community, in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA for vandalising a pipeline belonging to Total E & P Nigeria Limited.
“Still in July, six suspects with two trucks, a bus, 170 drums loaded with adulterated AGO were arrested in Okrika, while one barge loaded with crude oil was seized in Abonemma. Also confiscated were two boat engines in Nkpor village of Obio/Akpor.”
Mohammed warned youths desiring to go into oil stealing to beware or face the wrath of the law.