The Anambra State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested two suspects of merchants of adulterated petroleum products in its renewed drive to combat the perennial menace of oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal dealings on petroleum products.
Through coordinated operation based on credible intelligence, NSCDC intercepted one truck and arrested two suspects conveying 50,000 litres of product suspected to be adulterated Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), popularly known as diesel to an undisclosed location.
The newly reconstituted Anti- Vandalism Squad of the Command, headed by CSC Chinweze Chinenye on Saturday, September 24, intercepted the said truck with registration number: MKA 806 ZF, along Enugu-Onitsha express way, Awka.
The truck was loaded with suspected illegally refined petroleum product, AGO (diesel), with the two suspects, one Samuel Ifeanyichukwu Oduche , aged 39, of Ndiagu Amechi Awkunanaw, Enugu State, and one Njoku Emeka Agu, aged 35 of Oduma, Aninri L.G.A of Enugu State, on board.
The suspects volunteered confessional statements admitting their involvement in illegal dealings on petroleum products and pleaded for mercy.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the suspects have been in the illicit business of dealing in petroleum products without a license.
Consequently, State Commandant Chikere ordered the intelligence and Investigation department to conduct discreet Investigations, at the end of which both suspects will be charged to court for prosecution.
Meanwhile, the Commandant reiterated the commitment of the Corps to work assiduously towards protecting the nation’s oil and gas investments and other critical infrastructures.
He maintained that the command under his watch would not relent on the Corps mandate of protecting government critical assets and infrastructure from vandalism.
“The constant vandalism of Pipelines, destruction of oil and gas facilities and illegal oil bunkering in the country is of great concern to the Commandant-General of NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi.
“This criminal act is worrisome because of the consequences of economic hardship, damage to public infrastructures, and loss of Government huge revenue in the oil sector.
“In view of the above, the CG has tasked us to reorganized and empower the Anti-Vandalism Squad to decisively tackle this menace which has started yielding the desired results.
“I want to reassure members of the public that the command would not give those engaging in these heinous crimes any breathing space to operate in the state” he reiterated.
The NSCDC State helmsman while appreciating members of the public for their support to NSCDC called on them never to relent in giving out useful information in the fight against criminal activities and illegal dealings on petroleum products. Read more.
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