The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State command, has uncovered a new method adopted by oil thieves to convey their stolen products from the creeks to other parts of the state.
The Rivers Commandant, NSCDC, Joachim Okafor, disclosed on Friday in Port Harcourt that oil thieves and economic saboteurs had resorted to the use of rugged Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to evacuate stolen petroleum products.
Okafor said their preferred brand of SUV was the Toyota Sequoia adding that most times they moved in convoy of such vehicles while transporting the products to deceive security operatives.
He said the oil thieves were using the method to convey the products to neighbouring states, where they would load them into tankers or small trucks.
Okafor said three such SUVs were intercepted and impounded by the anti-vandal team of his command and that the entire vehicles were stuffed with illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO).
Displaying the vehicles, it was found that their interiors were redesigned to accommodate hundreds of litres of AGO, which was carefully concealed in cellophane.
Okafor said on sighting to the command’s operatives, the suspects conveying the products abandoned the vehicles and fled into the bush.
He said: “This briefing is important because the oil thieves have changed their mode of conveying their stolen products. Now if you wait to arrest them along the road, you will not see them. They are now carrying the products through the bush with SUVs.
“As men of our anti-vandal unit got information about this new method, they moved into action and arrested three Toyota Sequoia SUVs in various bushes”.
Okafor said one of the vehicles with registration number KHE 434 AA was arrested at Etche Local Government Area while the two others were nabbed at Omuma.
He said the command would carry out further investigations with the view of arresting and prosecuting persons involved in the economic sabotage.
He said: “I want to use this medium to warn persons doing this illicit business to desist because when we arrest you, we will prosecute you. I am advising them to look for legitimate business to do because there is no place for this illicit business in Rivers”.