Parading the suspect on Tuesday with eight drums used in adulterating engine oil, the State Commandant, Waziri Goni, said the command was alerted after an officer visited Umar’s shop in an attempt to patronise him.
He revealed that the officer, upon sighting the oil, raised alarm due to the overwhelming signs that the product was fake.
According to Goni, Umar sold the adulterated oil in collaboration with another suspect identified as Habibu Ibrahim, who supplied from Kano.
He said, “He was arrested around Tumfure area, he sells adulterated engine oil with petroleum and kerosene. We have sent the sample to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for evaluation but unfortunately, the Department of Petroleum Resource said they are going to do it. Already the suspect had confessed to the crime, it was our officer who discovered the illicit place when he went to buy oil.”
While warning residents about the indiscriminate purchase of engine oil, the commandant said efforts were on in prosecuting the suspect for sabotaging the general public.
“We want to alert the public most especially motorists because they can stand just anywhere to buy engine oil, this is why a lot of vehicles are in mechanic workshops because of engine problems. The public should buy from genuine engine oil sellers with a date.
Investigation is currently on to discover others within the state,” Goni added.
On his part, Umar narrated how he got regular supply from Kano, he revealed that a fake 20 litre-product was sold at N21,000 while the original was 25,000.
He said, “I usually get supplies from Habibu Ibrahim from Kano State who processes it there, my role is to sell and market it here in Gombe.”
Also speaking, State Chairman of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, under the Engine Lubricant Dealers, Hassan Bukar, condemned the act, adding that his association frowned at adulteration.
Bukar added that the group had instituted taskforce towards ensuring that motorists don’t suffer unjustly from nefarious activities of criminally minded individuals.
