In its renewed vigour and avowed deployment of strategic efforts to curb economic sabotage, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 14 suspected oil thieves, impounded four trucks, two wooden boats and four cars loaded with suspected illegally refined automotive gas oil (AGO). 

Rivers State Commandant of the NSCDC, Abu Tambuwal, who announced this via a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Command, Olufemi Ayodele, a Deputy Superintendent of the Corps (DSC), on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, informed that he ordered the operations that led to these arrests.

DSC Ayodele, who paraded the suspects before Journalists, disclosed that the operations were in furtherance of Tambuwal’s avowal that the war against illegal bunkering in Rivers State was non-negotiable, maintaining that the Command was determined to combat the menace of oil theft, illegal refineries, oil bunkering and illegal dealings in petroleum product in the State.

He asserted that the Command is currently under a new Sheriff in town with zero tolerance for all anti-government activities most especially the act of sabotaging the economy of the Nation through Vandalism of oil pipelines and illegal dealings in petroleum product.

“The NSCDC Rivers State Command in her renewed vigour to eradicate the menace of oil pipeline vandalism and other offences in connection with illegal dealings in petroleum products has arrested and hereby parades these 14 suspects named: Chinoso Anowo (M) 35years, Babagana Umaru (M) 40years, Victor Emeama (M) 49 Years, Ifeanyi Chinaka (M) 42years, Ndubisi Nwoji (M) 41years and Echefulachi Okoro (M) 33 years and others for illegal dealings in petroleum products and transportation of petroleum products without haulage licences being offences punishable under the Miscellaneous offences Act, law of the Federation 2004.”

“The first suspect was arrested at Ada George Obio/Akpor Local Government Area with 18,000 litres capacity white Man Diesel Truck RIVERS MHA 435 XZ but a part of the content had been discharged before been apprehended by our operatives. The second suspect was arrested at Abua Junction, Ahoada East Local Government with a Truck NGL 141 XA in conveyance of 45,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) popularly called Diesel; from his confessional statement the truck was loaded at a dump in Ekporoho Community in Ahoada East Local Government of Rivers State. Another Truck KADUNA MKA 701 ZF conveying 40,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO was also Impounded along Airport Road.  Four (4) Suspects were further arrested along a truck with number plate Ebonyi ZLL A3 XY in conveyance of products used for construction of illegal refineries”

The Command spokesman relayed that three suspects named: Oluchukwu Nwachukwu (M) 33 years, Uche Nwankwo (M) 29 years, Chiwendu Onwenyisi (M) 31 years were also arrested with four cars conveying about four drums of suspected illegally refined AGO concealed in cellophane bags equivalent to 800 litres: a light grey coloured Toyota Camry with registration number IMO STATE  AG 342 KGE, Blue Toyota Camry with registration number DELTA LEH 64 EX, a White Toyota Camry with registration number LAGOS LSD 58 BJ and a deep grey Toyota Camry Car with registration number RIVERS AM 25 BNY; they were all impounded at Airport round about in Ikwerre Local Government Area.

He added that, in addition, Isaac Halliday (M) 39 years, Joseph Tambufo, 50 years, Wisdom Batubo (M) 35 years and Felix Friday, 32years were arrested with two wooden boats loaded with suspected illegally refined AGO on waterways along Bakana River and Abonnema Wharf, respectively.

Reaffirming the Command’s continuous synergy with relevant sister agencies, DSC Ayodele hinted that all the suspects would definitely be charged to court after thorough Investigation, calling on “the good people of Rivers State to collaborate with the NSCDC Rivers State Command by giving credible Intelligence”, noting that safeguarding critical national assets and infrastructure in the State is a collective responsibility.

He further issued a stern warning to economic saboteurs in the State stating that they either engage themselves in legal ventures or risk facing the full wrath of the law.