Five persons with a truckload of 200 cellophane bags filled with suspected adulterated Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) plus a truck containing about 33, 000 litres of petroleum products have been arrested by the Akwa Ibom State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
This was disclosed yesterday by the State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr Abidemi Majekodunmi during a briefing with journalists at the command exhibits yard in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital.
Majekodunmi said that two suspects, the truck driver and conductor were apprehended along Itam Road, Itu Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom with an articulated truck containing consignments of what was suspected to be illegal petroleum products.
He said the other three suspects were nabbed by the Nigerian army with a 33, 000 litres truck loaded with petroleum products sourced from illegal cracking location in Abia and handed over to the NSCDC.
Majekodunmi said. “This kind of activity can lead to bleeding of the Nigerian economy and certainly a nation striving towards development cannot afford to allow these kinds of things to be happening.
“We have detained them, and they have made worthwhile statements. We are also pushing further to ensure that all other people involved in the activities will be brought to face the law so that justice can prevail.
“We will ensure that we get to the root of this case, as they will be prosecuted in the competent Court of law. Trusting that this will serve as a deterrent to all conspiring to engage in these activities. We promise the people of Nigeria that we will look into this case to the very end.
“We have 200 Cellophane sacks filled with AGO suspected to have been sourced from an illegal refinery location. Now the security patrol team who are always on routine patrol accosted them on the road and demanded to search.
“On searching, 200 cellophane bags were discovered filled with suspected stolen products. Illegal refined oil are certainly a product of oil theft and this must not be allowed to continue.
Even the degradation that it does to the economy is unbearable and it is a problem for the country,” The commandant added that the action was a contravention of the Nigerian state Constitution and NSCDC was committed to ensuring that the nation was free from vandalism.
Majekodunmi stressed that the NSCDC would make sure that it is no longer business as usual for criminals particurlarly vandals as the corps is ready to put in all the necessary measures to dig out more conspirators, he also called for the public corporations in fighting the menace.
“We want the public to support our progress with credible intelligent information, that we can actually execute our mandate and perform our constitutional duties and responsibilities.
“The Nigerian economy has a strong presence in the oil industry. We have to protect this industry because it is a strong national asset and that is one of the advantages that we have as a nation.” He added.
