Mkpoikana Udoma 16 April 2017, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, says it has impounded illegal petroleum products worth N250 million in Rivers State, in the last one week.
Rivers State Commandant of the corps, Mohammed Haruna, stated this while briefing newsmen after parading some suspected oil thieves in its custody at the command headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Haruna who took newsmen round the sites of the impounded trucks and vesselexplained that between 5th and 12th of April 2017, the command has arrested 19 suspected oil theives, five petroleum tankers, one barge vessel and a Toyota Corrola car conveying a total of 208,125litres of adulterated AGO and unrefined crude oil.
He also charged the operatives of the corp to intensify its fight against vandalism and illegal business in the state.
According to him, “On Wednesday 5th April 2017, at about 18.15hours, following a tipoff, the NSCDC officers deployed at Khana Division intercepted a truck conveying 40,000litres of adulterated AGO with registration number KMC162ZB. Three suspects were arrested; Aliyu Sani, Mohammed Sani and Bala Murtala.
“Also on 9th April 2017 at about 15.39hrs the Anti-Vandal team also intercepted a 45,000litres truck of crude oil with registration number BDG507XF with a Toyota Corolla with registration number NCH836AA also caught with 25litres gallons and one 50litres gallon of AGO along Borokiri Port Harcourt City Council.”
The NSCDC boss also said that out of the five tankers impounded, four was loaded with illegally refined and adulterated AGO and one with illegally acquired unrefined crude oil.
Haruna further said that the barge which was impounded at the Port Harcourt Tourist Beach, has 14 compartments fully loaded with adulterated AGO, while the Toyota Corolla car was loaded with five 25litre gallons of adulterated AGO.
He said: “On 12th April 2017, a team of the Anti-vandal men stormed the tourist beach where they intercepted a barge containing suspected illegal petroleum products with 14 compartments. No arrest was made but the barge is in our custordy whiile investigation is ongoing to unravel the hidoeut of the fled suspects.
“On the same date, at about 15.25hours seven suspected vandals were trailed and arrested along Garrison down to Eleme-Akpajo road with 40,000litres, 38,000litres and 45,000litres of trucks of petroleum product. Registration numbers MRS durf truck MUB 548XA, NNPC durf truck JMT71 and Red durf truck YLA542.
“Subsequently, a bid to rid the state of illegal operators in solid minerals, on 11th April 2017 a combined team of NSCDC Solid Minerals Defenders and Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development stormed Nwoela and Sons Dredging Company at Ibaa community in Emouha local government, six suspected illegal miners were arrested as investigation is on to ascertain their level of commitment,” he said.