Commandant Basil Igwebueze
BY GABRIEL OKECHUKWU, FRCN PORT HARCOURT
Twelve suspected vandals have been arrested by Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, for engaging in illegal oil activities at different locations in Rivers State.
Parading the suspects at the command’s Office in Port Harcourt Rivers State, the Commandant NSCDC Rivers State Command, Basil Igwebueze told Newsmen that five cars and a bus laden with adulterated petroleum products were confiscated along the line.
The feat was achieved within one month of taking over the reigns of affairs as the fourteenth commandant of Rivers State Command.
Four of the suspects were arrested at Eagle Island area in Port Harcourt, three of them met their Waterloo within Dockyard axis of Old Port Harcourt township while the rest were intercepted at Etche and Iguruta parts of the State while conveying adulterated petroleum products.
In what doubled as his maiden briefing, the Commandant Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC, Rivers State Command Basil Igwebueze expressed determination to confront pipeline vandalism and oil bunkering in the state, as instructed by the commandant General of the Corps.
Commandant Igwebueze who put the quantity of petroleum products confiscated at about ninety thousand litres acknowledged that the success was achieved through intelligence gathering and doggedness of the anti Vandal unit of the command.
He warned vandals to desist from their acts or relocate out of Rivers State.
The State Commandant who enjoined all private Guard service providers to be properly registered to avoid being shut down, pledged his readiness to collaborate with Sister security agencies in the state in the fight against criminality.
Two of the suspects, Kasim Poopola and Andrew Omatuse admitted they were arrested while carrying petroleum products.
The Commandant said that the suspects would be charged to court at the end of investigation
