Business
NSCDC Arrests 18 Suspected Vandals, Impounds Two Tankers In A’Ibom

Rivers State Head of Service, Barr Samuel LongJohn (right), receiving a report on the verification of the status of Unique Cooperative Society (loan facilitators) from the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Barr Rufus Godwins in Port Harcourt, last Friday.
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said it has arrested 18 suspected vandals in Akwa Ibom State.
The NSCDC Commandant, Mr Pedro Ideba, made this known when he briefed newsmen of the activities of the command in Uyo on Saturday.
Ideba said the NSCDC in the state impounded two tankers and Mercedez Benz laden with adulterated petroleum product.
The commandant said during the period under review, the command arrested 12 suspected vandals of high tension electric cables and Nigeria Telecommunication equipment.
Ideba said six suspects were arrested on December 2, while trying to discharge adulterated kerosene at an illegal filling station at Ikot Ekpene area of the state.
“On Monday, December 2, 2013, the command arrested six suspects, impounded two tankers, one Mercedes Benz and two motorcycles with other equipment at a filling station in Ibiakpan in Ikot Ekpene.
“During the arrest, through intelligence report, these tankers were loaded with kerosene (DPK) products from Calabar depot, and supposed to discharge at Uyo, but rather went to the above filling station.
“They adulterated the tanker load of kerosene with chemicals and changed it to diesel in the process, we monitored their activities and clamped on them and arrested them.
“In the course of our investigation, we discovered that even a seal that supposed to be used only by the depot officers after loading the product to prevent adulteration were in their possession,’’ Ideba said.
The commandant said the hydrometer used in measuring the quality standard of petroleum products were also found with the suspects.
He said the suspects had been in the unlawful business for sometime before luck ran out on them that day.
He said the owner of the Mercedes Benz was at large, adding that the command was making efforts to track him to face the wrath of the law.
The commandant reiterated the NSCDC’s resolve to stamp out oil bunkering and clamp down on those involved in the adulteration of petroleum products in the state.