By Oluwatosin Maliki
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State Command has arrested 10 suspects allegedly involved in illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and illegal dealings in petroleum products at Kryo community near Alakiri waterways in Okrika local government area of River State.
The NSCDC Commandant, Basil Igwebueze, disclosed that operatives on routine patrol also impounded nine vehicles abandoned by suspects who were on the Command’s trail along Trans-Amadi axis of Port Harcourt.
The vehicles contained illegally refined petroleum products concealed in cellophane bags and seized 28,225 litres of illegally refined AGO popularly known as diesel.
The ten suspects include a second time offender, Chinedu Michael who was granted bail two months ago after he was arrested for illegal refining of petroleum products by the Corps.
The suspects were paraded at the Command Headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, State Commandant, Basil Igwebueze noted that the suspects were apprehended in various locations across the state by the Anti-vandal Unit in collaboration with the 6 Division, Nigeria Army.
Commandant Igwebueze said the suspects would be charged to court while the products and vehicles would be forfeited and proceeds remitted to the the federal government.
Igwebueze warned those he described as ‘unrepentant’ illegal oil thieves to turn over a new leaf or be ready to face the full wrath of the law.
He reassured Nigerian’s that the Command will not relent in the Corps’ mandate of safeguarding critical national assets and infrastructure and called for the review of laws against crude oil theft to make it more stringent.
