NSCDC ARRESTS 14 SUSPECTS IMPOUNDS 4 TRUCKS 2 WOODEN BOATS AND 4 CARS IN RIVERS STATE
BY GABRIEL OKECHUKWU, PORT HARCOURT
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Rivers State Command has arrested fourteen suspected vandals at different parts of Rivers State for engaging in oil theft.
The Public Relations Officer, NSCDC, Rivers State Command, DSC Olufemi Ayodele who made this known while parading the suspects at the Command’s office in Port Harcourt Rivers State revealed that Four Trucks, four cars and two wooden boats used for illegal oil deals were confiscated from the suspects.
DSC Ayodele who attributed the feat to the Charge by the State Commandant, Abu Tambuwal, to officers and men of the command to bring to an end, oil theft, illegal refining, oil bunkering and other illegal dealings in petroleum product in Rivers State.
According to the PRO, the Rivers State Commandant who has a stance of zero tolerance to oil theft right from assumption of duty in the state, decried the environmental damage and economic waste pipelines vandalism has caused the nation.
He stated that “the NSCDC Rivers State Command in her renewed vigour to eradicate the menace of oil pipeline vandalism and other offences in connection with illegal dealings in petroleum products has arrested and hereby parading these 14 Suspects for illegal dealings in petroleum products and transportation of petroleum products without haulage licences being offences punishable under the Miscellaneous offences Act, law of the Federation 2004.”
Giving details of the arrests, the Rivers State Command spokesman told Newsmen that one of the suspects was arrested at Ada George Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in 18,000 litres capacity Truck while another suspect was arrested at Abua Junction, Ahoada East Local Government while conveying 45,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) to an unknown destination.
Similarly, Four Suspects were apprehended along a truck loaded with materials used for construction of illegal refineries while another truck laden with 40,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO was Impounded along Airport road.
“3 suspects were also arrested with 4 Cars conveying about 4 drums of suspected illegally refined AGO concealed in cellophane bags equivalent to 800 litres.”
“a light grey coloured Toyota Camry Blue Toyota Camry, White Toyota Camry and a deep grey Toyota Camry Car were all impounded at Airport round about in Ikwerre Local Government Area.”
The Public Relations Officer of Rivers State Command while emphasizing that importance of synergy with other security agencies, solicited timely and useful information from residents of the state on the activities of vandals who sabotage oil installations and critical National assets.
DSC Ayodele who warned that anyone caught in illegal oil deals would not be spared, maintained that the suspects will be charged to court at the end of investigation.
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