The PUNCH learnt that the suspects were said to have been apprehended during a routine patrol of the Anti-vandal unit of the agency’s state command.
Speaking through a statement made available to the PUNCH on Thursday, the command Public Relations Officer, DSC Abolurin Oluwaseun, NSCDC disclosed that the product was suspected to be an adulterated diesel.
The statement partly read, “The operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Command, have apprehended eight suspected oil thieves caught transporting petroleum products suspected of adulterated diesel in Ajah, Lagos.
“The suspected oil thieves were apprehended, around Ajah Beach, during a routine patrol of the Anti-vandal unit of the Command, on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. The suspects were found transporting a boat carrying 13 industrial tanks loaded, with about a thousand litres each of diesel and 50 drums of 200 litres size filled with diesel claimed, to be moving towards ‘Igbo Elejo from Lekki Free Trade Zone,’ on behalf of one Mr Pius ( currently at large).”
“The eight suspected oil thieves include; Joshua Zira Lukas ‘M’ 40yrs, Gbenga Ifanaje ‘M’ 49yrs, Omodoru Fayowole ‘M’ 57yrs, Timilehin Ajonike ‘M’ 40yrs, Ogunfuyi Smart Kolawole ‘M’ 29yrs, Ademibo Omomowo ‘M’ 35yrs, Ayo Agidi Ogun ‘M’ 47yrs, Ijitola Ilemobayo ‘M’ 40yrs.”
Speaking, the State Commandant, Usman Ishaq Alfadarai, ordered the Intelligence and Investigation Department of the command to begin a further investigation into the matter, saying that the suspects will be charged after the investigation.
