NSCDC Arrests Three Suspects Over Illegal Petroleum Deal

The Nigeria Security and
Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ebonyi State says it has  arrested three suspects in connection with illegal deals in petroleum products.
The Commandant of the corps in the state, Mrs Ego Echendu, told newsmen in Abakaliki that it also impounded a petroleum tanker laden with 15,000 litres of automotive gas oil suspected to be adulterated.
Echendu said the tanker and the suspects were apprehended by the anti-vandal unit of the command on the Enugu-Abakaliki expressway.
She explained that the suspects were arrested because of their inability to provide the covering letter for the product being conveyed in the vehicle and their failure to account for its source.
According to her, the product will be screened to determine its genuineness.
“At the conclusion of our investigation, we will ascertain whether the product they were carrying was adulterated or not; after taking their statement, they could be granted what we call administrative bail.
“And after, we will contact the Department of Petroleum Resources or a legitimate laboratory to conduct a forensic analysis; it is only then that we know whether the product is genuine or not.
“At this moment, we are just suspecting because we didn’t get any covering letter from them and no clear statement was made as to where they loaded from,” she said.
Echendu said the suspects resided in Enugu and were aware that there was a law against adulteration of petroleum products.
“It is one of our core mandates to nail anyone found wanting in this area; my warning to them is that we are on ground. We don’t compromise and as such if you get into our net only the court will set you free,” she said.
She also said that the command arrested two suspects for alleged impersonation and threat to peace during Saturday’s Joint Admission and Matriculation Board examination.
She said the suspects, who were nabbed in Ohaozara Local Government Area, had been handed over to the police.