Men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on Friday paraded four suspects over involvement in illegal dealings in petroleum products.
Parading the suspects, Chinedu Owen (34), Mustapha Adamu (36), Isah Adamu (32) and Anas Muhammed, the new corps Commandant in the state, Muhammad Sanyinna, said three of the suspects were arrested at Ubakala in the Umuahia South Local Government Area junction, along Enugu-PH Expressway while conveying about 33,000 litres of bitumen in a truck.
He stated that the other suspect was arrested at the same junction conveying 50,000 litres of DPK (Kerosene) in a truck.
Sanyinna said, “The two trucks were impounded while a passenger car loaded with 800 litres of suspected adulterated AGO was intercepted at Owazah in Ukwa East LGA of the state after some suspects abandoned it on sighting the men of the anti-vandal team who were on routine patrol. Upon interrogation, the arrested suspects have no operational licence, no haulage permit and the products have no purchase receipts. The corps is doing further investigation to unravel the illegality.
Thanking the Commandant General, Ahmed Audi for his support in terms of logistics and welfare packages, he attributed the renewed vigour and commitment among his men in the fight against oil theft to the recent promotion during which over 5000 personnel were promoted.
The state commandant commended the gallantry and professionalism of his officers and men who he said acted on a tip-off to arrest the suspects and warned illegal oil dealers to consider other legitimate businesses to do because “the corps will not spare anyone caught in oil theft or any other form of illegal dealing in petroleum products.’’
He assured that upon the conclusion of investigations, the suspects would be charged to court for diligent prosecution.
Fielding questions from journalists, one of the suspects, Owen from Rivers State said that he was only transporting a product trans-loaded from a broken down truck in Aba and was heading to Ohafia when he was intercepted at Ubakala junction. He added that his boss; Adamu, had the receipts.
Owen, who said he hails from Abia State, stated that he was paid N30,000 to transport the petroleum product whose content he said he didn’t know.
