Delta State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), yesterday paraded 17 suspects arrested by its Special Intelligence Squad in Ughelli town, while allegedly conveying products suspected to be illegally refined Automated Gasoline Oil (AGO), locally called Diesel from Bayelsa en route Northern States.
The NSCDC State spokesperson, Deputy Superintendent Cadre (DSC) Emeka Peters Okwechime, who paraded the suspects in Asaba with eight trucks used in conveying the products, gave their names as: Abbas Adamu, m, 36; Salisu Abdullahi , m, 20; Isiaka Adamu,m, 46; Musa Haruna, m, 27; Awalu Usman, m, 35; Haliru Aliu, m, 35; Musa Yusuf, m. 42; Sumaila Muhammed, m, 35; Usman Musa, m, 25; Usman Yuguda, m, 27; Ahmed Muhammed, m, 27; Muhammed Suleman, m, 35; Suleman Musa, m, 16y; Abdullahi Adamu, m, 28; Adamu Yusuf, m, 20; Sadiq ur Abdullahi, m, 22 and Najib Haruna, m, 17.
The State NSCDC Public Relations Officer, said despite the unfortunate incident, the Commandant, Akinsanya Iskilu Abiodun, has drastically reduced pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, economic sabotage among other social and economic crimes in the state.
He, however, solicited for speedy judicial process on all NSCDC cases pending at various courts, to free the NSCDC Exhibit yard to accommodate more trucks as they anticipate mass arrest of more trucks, tankers and suspected vandals, crude oil thieves and others.
Okwechime, while reassuring Deltans of the resilience and the continued commitment of the NSCDC in keeping faith with the civilian population, maintained that the capacity of the agency to protect all government critical national assets and infrastructure have been rekindled by the Commandant General’s new welfare packages for the personnel.
He, therefore, charged the leaders and youths in the oil rich region, to report all cases of vandalism, crude oil theft, illegal dealings on Petroleum products, other social and economic crimes to any NSCDC office closer to them “knowing full well that they must say something when they see anything.”
The Public Relations Officer assured all Deltans to go about their legitimate businesses without fear of molestation, saying the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded to serve as deterrent to others.