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NSCDC seizes 20,000 litres of stolen crude in Abia, arrests five
In a move against crude oil theft, the Commandant General Special Intelligence Squad of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested five suspects and recovered 20,000 liters of crude oil stolen from Abia State.
The NSCDC disclosed this in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Afolabi Babawale, and posted on its Facebook page on Tuesday.
The statement partly read, “The Commander of the CG Special Intelligence Squad; Commandant Appolos Dandaura, hinted that his men arrested 5 suspects and impounded about 20,000 litres of crude oil, which was earlier siphoned from an already vandalized pipeline along Umielechi/izam Community in Abia State.”
Dandaura explained that the operation was based on credible intelligence that led to a midnight raid in the Umielechi/Izam community of Abia State.
“We proceeded acting on the intelligence at our disposal, and in a midnight raid we arrested the 5 suspects with stolen crude oil carefully packed in cellophane bags,” he was quoted as saying.
The statement added, “Commandant Appolos narrated that the CG SIS acted based on credible intelligence and chased the suspects who almost escaped using their motorcycles in Obuzor ASA axis, Ukwa West of Abia State.
“He said those suspects who were caught red-handed are: Danniel Augustine, 20years, Moses Friday, 23years, Igboshe Musua, 42years, Sadiq Yunusa, 28years, and Dozie Ugo, 33years while items recovered as exhibits are about 20,000 litres of already siphoned crude oil, two Dalong Super Wolf Motorcycles, a Qlink 150-ES Electric Start Motorcycle, and a Nasara Super D-S 150 Motorcycle.”
Dandaura was reported to have reaffirmed his commitment to the directive of the Commandant General, Dr. Ahmed Audi, who declared zero tolerance for vandalism and crude oil theft.
“The Squad Commander said the corps is resolved to keep fighting vandals and oil thieves relentlessly as the corps is poised to protect all critical national assets and infrastructure in the nation,” the statement added.
PUNCH reported in September that the NSCDC announced the arrest of seven suspects involved in illegal dealings with petroleum products in Woji, on the outskirts of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
A barge and three boats laden with automotive gas oil (commonly known as diesel) were reportedly seized during the operation.
