NSCDC Parades 19 Suspected Oil Thieves In Rivers

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State Command,  on Monday  paraded 19 suspected oil thieves in  an operation code-named ‘Operation Stop the Soot Through Wiping Out All Traces Of Illegal Petroleum Production in Rivers State’.
The State Commandant of the agency, Mr Abu Tambuwal made this known at a press briefing in Port Harcourt during the week.
Tambuwal who attributed the vigour in the fight against soot to the directives by the State Governor, Nyesom Wike,  stressed that, the  soot must stop.
He boasted that the command will  not soft pedal on its plans to  fight against those he described as wasters of the country’s resources.
“The command will no longer condone the destruction of aquatic lives and agro produce as a result of oil spillages orchestrated by acts of illegal bunkering in Rivers State”, he said.
According to him, command was to comb all nooks and crannies of the state to fish out illegal refining sites as well as its perpetrators.
He hinted  that a good number of suspects have been arrested while it has also destroyed some illegal dump sites including those found within residential areas.
“We have not taken the fight against vandalism of our natural resources to the creeks alone but every identified illegal dumps in this state. Today, the command has so far destroyed so many illegal dumps sited within residential areas and water sides”, he said.
He further briefed that a Nissan Primera Car laden with suspected illegally refined AGO, three trucks, one bus, and a wooden boat were among the items paraded alongside the suspects.
The Tide gathered that over 400 drums filled with suspected illegally refined AGO and two Yamaha Boat Engines used for acts of vandalism were also impounded.
“On 4th February, 2022 at about 1336hrs, nine (9) suspected oil thieves were intercepted and arrested at an illegal oil dump site located around Former Church Compound, Borokiri New Road, Off Naval Express Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. A green Nissan Primera car laden with suspected illegally refined petroleum products, Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) was recovered from the suspects”, he said.
It was also believed that the command, same day, at about 13.54.00 hours, arrested six suspected oil thieves and over 200 drums filled  with  some liquid suspected to be adulterated  AGO were destroyed at an Illegal oil dump site at the Borokiri, New Road, Off Naval Express Road, Port Harcourt.
“On 5th February, 2022 at about 1938hrs in George Ama Community in Okrika Local Government Area, the Command impounded A Blue Mack Truck with REG. No. BORNO DAM 97 XA loaded with unquantifiable suspected illegally refined AGO.
“Same day, at about 2106hrs close to the water-front at Obodi Community, Off East West Road in Ahoada-West LGA, the command impounded a white and blue colour Daf trailer truck laden with unquantified suspected illegally refined AGO in a fabricated tank/compartment underneath”, he said
On the next line of action, he hinted that the exhibits were in the State Headquarters of  the Command and that of its Jetty in  Ogbogoro.
Concerning the fate of the  suspects, he said that they were currently undergoing  interrogation and will be charged to court  soon for possible prosecution.

By: King Onunwor