NSCDC Boss, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi
Mr. Abu Tambuwal, commander of the Nigerian Civil Defense and Security Corps (NSCDC), Rivers Command, said on Friday that the command had arrested two suspects for allegedly diverting gasoline to neighboring countries.
This is contained in a statement issued by the command spokesman, DSC Olufemi Ayodele in Port Harcourt.
Tambuwal said the male suspects were caught in the act by the NSCDC’s border vandalism team, which was patrolling border communities in Rivers.
“Credible intelligence revealed that oil traffickers were diverting petroleum products through states that share borders with Rivers, from where they move the products to neighboring countries.
“Upon receiving the intelligence, our team went into action and seized a blue and white 50,000 liter tanker truck with registration number: Abia EZA 850 YF.
“Suspects during the investigation confessed to lifting the petroleum product from the Conoil Depot on Ibeto Road in Port Harcourt.
Tambuwal said preliminary investigation showed the truck was tasked with delivering product to a service station in the Ikwerre local government area of the state.
“But instead of unloading the oil product at Omo Wealth Station, the suspects maneuvered to the border between Rivers and Imo states en route to neighboring countries.
“They (suspects) were subsequently arrested and will be charged in court as soon as the investigation is concluded.
“The gasoline will be returned to the Omo Walth service station to avoid fuel shortages in the area,” he added.
The commander assured members of the public of the command’s commitment to ridding the state of pipeline vandals, oil thieves, and illegal traffickers of petroleum products.
Tambuwal further confirmed that the commando was in the custody of 17 suspected oil thieves and six wooden boats handed over by the Nigerian Navy in Port Harcourt.
According to him, the navy intercepted the suspects and the boats during a routine patrol targeting illegal oil bunkers in the state’s creeks and waterways.
“The suspects allegedly stored an unspecified amount of petroleum products suspected to be illegally refined diesel and kerosene inside cellophane bags concealed in sacks.
“The investigation is ongoing to determine the source of the oil product, while the suspects will be prosecuted in court if found guilty,” it added.