By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt – The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it arrested 11 suspects accused of stealing crude oil from pipelines in Rivers.
NSCDC Commandant in Rivers, Michael Ogar paraded the suspects and petroleum products before newsmen in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
He said the 11 suspects were in possession of 15,500 litres of crude oil and 32,775 litres of adulterated diesel when they were picked up by its operatives across the state.
“Some of the items we recovered from the suspects include an abandoned truck with Nassarawa registration number: LFA 757 XA laden with about 14,500 litres of crude oil.
“The crude oil concealed in sacks was impounded at Etche border in the state.
“In addition, two of the suspects were arrested in Port Harcourt with an ash-coloured Mercedes truck registered Rivers SKP 355 XH laden with 3,000 litres of diesel,” he said.
Ogar said that NSCDC operatives also seized a Toyota Avalon with 475 litres of fake diesel and another Toyota Camry laden with 300 litres of diesel.
“The diesel was concealed in cellophane bags while the suspects are currently at large but efforts are on to arrest them.
“Also, during a routine patrol along the waterways in Bakana River, our marine force arrested four suspects conveying an estimated 30,000 litres of diesel inside a large wooden boat.
“Five other suspects were arrested at Oyakama, Ahoada West with a Pathfinder Jeep in possession of 1,000 litres of crude oil concealed in cellophane bags,” he added.
Ogar said on conclusion of investigation the suspects would be arraigned in court while the petroleum products and other seized items would be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The NSCDC commandant expressed worry over the reconstruction of already destroyed illegal refineries and assured the command would deal decisively with any operative caught aiding and abetting illegal refiners.
“To this end, unrepentant vandals, illegal oil refiners and operators of illegal refineries are warned to desist from such illegalities or face the full wrath of the law,” he advised. (NAN)
