24 August 2013, Lagos – Ten suspected fuel smugglers were, Friday, paraded at the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps office, Ikeja, Lagos.
Information made available to news men at the parade revealed that the arrest was made in the early hours of Friday August 23, 2013, based on a tip-off that some petrol stations in the Badagry, Owode and Seme border axis are notorious for accepting and selling stolen petroleum products to suspected smugglers.
Based on that, a surveillance was mounted resulting in the arrest of fuel thieves.
It was gathered that the suspects were apprehended in a petrol station identified as ‘Mega Fair Petrol Station’.
The State Commandant Adesuyi Clement Dayo, while addressing news men, stated that some of the ten apprehended suspects are workers at the said petrol station, some were at the station to buy fuel, while some were actually involved in the act.
He assured that after thorough investigations, those found guilty will face the wrath of the law.
”This is a signal to the others, that the Nigerian Civil Defence and Security Corps will not sit down and fold its hands to see criminal activities that are destroying the nation.
Based on some transactions that occurred there in the early hours of the day, we are convinced that the apprehended suspects were indeed involved in the act.
We still have so many of them out there, and we shall continue in this. Also being mindful of human right violations, the suspects will be charged to court as soon as our intelligence officers conclude investigations”. he said.
Recovered in the raid were two petrol tankers and seven vehicles filled with gallons of PMS products.
– Uju Mbanusi, Vanguard