NSCDC Parade 10 Suspects for Oil Theft, Vandalism in Rivers

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has paraded 10 suspects for vandalism, illegal dealings in petroleum products and other related crimes.

Parading the suspects at the command headquarters yesterday, the Rivers State Commandant of NSCDC, Mr. Basil Igwebueze, said that the arrests were achieved by the anti-vandal unit of the command.

Igwebueze explained that five of the suspects were with three motorcycles, two wheelbarrow filled with kerosene (AGO) and 1, 000 meters large industrial pumping hose.

He said that the suspects were arrested and handed over to NSCDC Rivers State Command by military intelligence men with the Headquarters of 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The state commandant further revealed that five suspects, including “Aniebiet Pascal (22), Nnadi Ogbonna (23), Ifeanyi Delight (25), Sunday Benjamin (22) and Okechukwu Finbar (20) were apprehended by 29 Battalion Nigerian Army Port Harcourt.”

He said that the suspects were arrested with 44 metal pipes, four cylinders containing nitrogen gas, one wooden boat with 25 horse power engine along Kryo community near Alakiri waterways in Okrika Local Government Area of the state.

The commandant revealed that the “anti-vandal unit while on routine patrol at Mother Cat round about, Trans Amadi in Port Harcourt also impounded vehicles abandoned by suspects who are currently being trailed by our undercover personnel.

“The command recovered a gold colour Toyota Camry with number plate RIVERS AJ 770 DBU laden with illegally refined AGO concealed in cellophane bags, a white and black Futon Bus Registered as: EBONYI XA 637BKL laden with eight plastic drums of illegally refined AGO.”

Igwebueze assured that at the conclusion of investigation the suspects would be charged to court while the products and means of conveyance would be forfeited and proceeds remitted into the federal government coffer.

He warned unrepentant illegal oil bunkerers to desist from such heinous act or face the full wrath of the law.

He hinted that the Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Audi, deployed him to Rivers State to achieve the mandate of the corps in safeguarding all critical national assets and infrastructures, training, supervision and monitoring of the private security guard companies, disaster management amongst others.

Igwebueze noted that in ensuring the effective discharge of the NSCDC’s statutory mandate, there is need for strong collaborations with sisters security agencies.