Operatives of the Delta State Command of the Nigeria Security Security and Civil Defence Corps have arrested some suspected crude oil thieves and vandals in the state.
The command also arrested illegal dealers in petroleum products such as dual purpose kerosine and automated gasoline oil in some communities in the State.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer in the state, Emeka Peters Okwechime, disclosed this to journalists in Warri, while parading eight suspects arrested for various crimes.
He listed the suspects arrested along Warri-Sapele Road as Salisu Ibrahim, aged 22 years, Idris Ilia (23) and Usman Adam (32), among others.
According to the NSCDC spokesman, the feat was performed barely 24 hours after the Delta State NSCDC Commandant, Akinsanya Iskilu Abiodun, launched the Commandant Special Tactical Team code named ‘Operation Show No Mercy To Crude Oil Thieves, Pipeline Vandals amongst other crimes and criminalities’ in the state.
“Barely 24 hours into their operations, they arrested some suspected crude oil thieves, vandals along the Warri Sapele Road and those illegally dealing in petroleum products suspected to be Dual Purpose Kerosine (DPK) and Automated Gasoline Oil (AGO),” he said.
The PRP added, “The renewed operation was carried out, acting on the presidential directive to the NSCDC Commandant-General, Dr Abubakar Audi Ahmed, directing him to put an end to crude oil theft and oil pipeline vandalism on or before the end of December 2022
“The CG, therefore, gave a marching order to all state commandant’s to crush and decimate all crude oil thieves and pipeline vandals in their respective states without mercy.”
According to the Delta NSCDC spokesman, the team also busted and sealed up an illegal dump site being used in illegally dealing and storing of illegally refined petroleum product suspected to be automated gasoline oil, close to Niger Cat junction in Uvwie Local Government Area of the State, which led to the arrest of two other suspects named Aminu Garuba (32) and Usman Tasiu (19).
He stated that on the same Warri Sapele highway, the team further swooped on ‘black marketers’ illegally dealing in petroleum products suspected to be Automated Gasoline Oil, where several drums of illegally refined AGO were destroyed and two suspects nabbed.
Also paraded was one Mrs Blessing Ojewale, aged 40 years, who was said to be engaged in illegally dealing in petroleum product suspected to be DPK concealed in about 30 polythene sacks estimated to be about 1000litres, loaded in a Toyota Sienna bus with registration number LSR 832 CZ used in conveying the product.
She was arrested by the Commandant Special Tactical Team on September 12, 2022 at about 1600hrs at Ebendo, along Kwale road while the driver jumped into the bush upon sighting the operatives.
Similarly, one Mr Idogor Sunday was arrested with about 27 kegs of 25litres Jerry cans loaded with petroleum product suspected to be DPK, in a Mitsubishi Space Runner bus with Registration Number CL 374 ABC.
The suspect was arrested at Kwale Junction in Ogwashi uku along Asaba Kwale highway at about 1930hrs on the 12th of September 2022 by the Commandant Special Tactical Team.
The NSCDC spokesman disclosed that sting operations and raiding would continue across Delta State until the State is sanitised of crude oil thieves and pipeline vandals.
He added that the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations “in order for them to face the full weight of the law and to serve as deterrent to would be criminals”.
