Operatives of the Anti-vandal Land Patrol and Marine Forces of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State Command, have arrested eleven suspected oil vandals in different locations of the state.
Parading the suspects at the Command’s headquarters, yesterday, the Commandant, Michael Ogar, reaffirmed his commitment to waging war against economic saboteurs who are feeding fat through their involvement in oil theft, illegal dealings in petroleum products, vandalism of oil pipelines, and oil bunkering activities.
Ogar, who also visited the Command’s exhibit yard at Ogbogoro in Obio/Akpor Local Council of the state, noted that operatives arrested two suspects: Idowu Shaibu, ‘m’, 35 years and Saheed Ibrahim ‘m’, 30 years, in Port Harcourt City council and seized a short ash-colour Mercedes Truck with registration number RIVERS SKP 355 XH, while in conveying 3,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), popularly called diesel.
He also noted that while on routine patrol his men also impounded two vehicles, a Black Toyota Avalon car and an ox-blood Camry car, along Agudama Street D/line, also in Port Harcourt council, adding that although the owners are at large, efforts are ongoing to apprehend them.
Meanwhile, some suspects, who spoke to The Guardian, denied involvement in illegal oil activities. One of the suspects, Saviour Kenku said: “On Wednesday, I was arrested inside a local boat, in Bakana River, which we use for fetching firewood. We were caught while cutting firewood, but we are not involved in bunkering.”
