05 July 2015, Asaba – Men of the Nigerian Civil Defence and Security Corps, NCDSC, in Delta State, yesterday arrested seven suspected oil pipeline vandals while smuggling 66,000 litres of illegal crude oil to neighbouring Anambra State.
The suspects, who were arrested along Kwale-Nssukwa road by the Anti-Vandal Squad of the Corps, are Muhammadu Abdulkareem, Ifeanyi Agbo, Augustine Asemota, Endurance Mordi, Ajulo Sunday, Ifeanyi Illoh and Chiemer Ikechukwu. The State Commander of the NCDSC, Mrs Beatrice Irabor, who paraded the suspects in Asaba, the state capital, told newsmen that the suspects were apprehended while transporting the product in trucks with registration numbers, Delta LEH 206 XA, Delta 325 SKL and Edo Auc 62 XA.
Irabor said one of the trucks, driven by Muhammadu Abdulkareem and assisted by Ifeanyi Agbo, contained 33,000 litres of stolen crude oil.
She said, “The other container trucks had 33,000 liters. They were arrested early this morning (yesterday)at about 3am by our Anti-Vandals Squad while conveying the illegal product to Onitsha in Anambra state.”
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Usman Baba, has launched Safer Highways Patrol Teams as part of the command’s effort to strengthen security on the highways.
The launching came on the hills of President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that military check points be withdrawn nationwide. While dismissing the speculation that the withdrawal of military check points would lead to increase of crime, Baba said:”the Command wishes to use this medium to inform the general public and road users that although the ban on road blocks on the highway is still in force, patrol men could occasionally embark on stop and search as part of crime preventive/detective mechanisms.”