By Blessing Ibunge
The personnel of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rivers State Command have arrested 27 persons over alleged involvement in illegal oil bunkering.
The suspects were said to have been arrested at the weekend, in Ahoada Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Disclosing this Monday in a press release by the Head, Media & Publicity of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, the anti-graft agency revealed the suspects as Mohammad Bello, Abubarkar Umar, Abdulkarim Ibrahim, Mohammad Bashimu, Bello Mohammad, Abdullahi Murtala, Paul Paparoman, Abdullahi Ibrahim, Usman Abdulahi, Illiyasu Ibrahim and Idris Dahiru.
According to the statement, others are Hussaini Yaiu, Bala Audu, Ibrahim Muhammad, Auwal Abdulsalam, Laminu Yusuf, Suleiman Abubarkar, Abdulahi Musa, Mamuda Abdulahi, Edima Samuel Gospel, Nural Abdulahi, Dauda Adamu, Adamu Ibrahim, Ali Abah, Sabiu Sani, Azumi Blaik and Keshim Ordu.
Uwujaren stated that the suspects were arrested in random raids conducted by the EFCC based on verified intelligence on their alleged illegal oil bunkering activities.
He said: “In the course of the arrest, large quantities of products suspected to be illegally-refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were found with them. Twenty (20) jerry cans and 25 litres of the products, stored in drums and tanks, ready for onward transportation to various locations, were intercepted.”
He added that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.
