By Ngozi Eyeh
The Rivers State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has apprehended and paraded 10 suspects involved in illegal activities related to petroleum products and other criminal acts.
The arrests were made by the anti-vandal unit of the NSCDC, and the suspects were presented at the command headquarters.
Mr. Basil Igwebueze, the Commandant of NSCDC in Rivers State, disclosed that five of the suspects were found in possession of three motorcycles, two wheelbarrows filled with kerosene (AGO), and a 1,000-meter industrial pumping hose.
These individuals were apprehended and subsequently handed over to the NSCDC Rivers State Command by military intelligence personnel from the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army’s Headquarters in Port Harcourt for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Additionally, Mr. Igwebueze reported that another group of five suspects, including Aniebiet Pascal (22), Nnadi Ogbonna (23), Ifeanyi Delight (25), Sunday Benjamin (22), and Okechukwu Finbar (20), were arrested by the 29 Battalion Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt.
Related Posts
They were found in possession of 44 metal pipes, four cylinders containing nitrogen gas, and a wooden boat with a 25-horsepower engine, all located near Kryo community along the Alakiri waterways in Okrika Local Government Area of the state.
The anti-vandal unit also impounded vehicles abandoned by suspects during a routine patrol at Mother Cat roundabout in Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt.
Among the seized vehicles were a gold-colored Toyota Camry with registration number RIVERS AJ 770 DBU, carrying illegally refined AGO concealed in cellophane bags, and a white and black Futon Bus registered as EBONYI XA 637BKL, transporting eight plastic drums of illegally refined AGO.
Mr. Igwebueze assured that once the investigation is concluded, the suspects will be charged to court, and the seized products and means of conveyance will be forfeited, with the proceeds remitted into the federal government’s coffers.
He issued a warning to unrepentant illegal oil bunkering operators to cease their activities or face the full consequences of the law.
Furthermore, Mr. Igwebueze noted that the Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Audi, had deployed him to Rivers State to fulfill the corps’ mandate of safeguarding critical national assets and infrastructure, overseeing the training, supervision, and monitoring of private security guard companies, and managing disaster situations, among other responsibilities.
He emphasized the importance of strong collaborations with sister security agencies to effectively fulfill NSCDC’s statutory duties.
