Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Fire has completely razed the yard used by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to store exhibits and impounded petrol tankers, in Iriebe, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The fire which began since Monday afternoon and burned through Tuesday even up till the time of filing this report, is suspected to have been caused by sabotage, according to the NSCDC.
Confirming the incident, NSCDC Assistant Commandant General in charge of Zone L covering Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River State, ACG James Bassey, said the exhibit yard contained several impounded trucks of suspected illegally refined AGO, which a part of it had been forfeited by Court order and were to be auctioned.
Bassey explained that the exhibit yard was allotted to the Rivers State Command of the Corps over a decade ago, as a result of the influx of many trucks impounded in connection with illegal bunkering, illegal dealings in petroleum products, oil pipeline vandalism, oil theft amongst others.
He added that Rivers State Command of NSCDC had intensified efforts in the fight against vandalism and oil theft leading to the arrests and prosecution of suspected illegal bunkering and their trucks impounded.
The Zonal Commander who spoke alongside Heads of EFCC and Federal Fire Service in the State, said the exhibit yard was jointly owned by the NSCDC and EFCC, assuring that concerted efforts were made to put out the inferno, in order to prevent it from destroying properties of citizens within the neighborhood.
“The exhibit yard was allotted to the Rivers State Command over a decade ago as a result of the influx of many trucks impounded in connection with illegal bunkering, illegal dealings in Petroleum products suspected to be AGO, Oil pipeline vandalism, Oil theft amongst others.
“The then government in power directed that the impounded trucks located around the Command Headquarters Olu Obasanjo way be moved to a more spacious environment as there were over congestion and disruption of vehicular movements in the area.
“The cause of the fire incident can only be ascertained at the expiration of a thorough investigation, but the nefarious activities of saboteurs cannot be undermined, as five suspects have been arrested by the Command’s Intelligence and Anti-vandal Team who cordon the entire area.”
Also Speaking, the Rivers State Commandant, of NSCDC, Abu Tambuwal, affirmed that the fight against vandalism and illegal dealings in petroleum products was non-negotiable even as thorough investigation on the fire incident had commenced.
Tambuwal noted that anyone arrested in connection with the fire incident would be made to face the full wrath of the law, stressing that the Command under his watch remains resolute and dogged as the Corps would continue to collaborate with relevant Security agencies in tackling the menace of illegal oil dealings in Rivers State.
“Gentlemen, obviously this occurrence is an act of sabotage by evil minded persons who want to get back to the NSCDC at all cost; We will not be deterred in our dogged and resolute fight against vandalism of oil pipelines and illegal dealings in Petroleum products.
“We thank all the first responders: the Federal and State Fire Services, the fire fighters unit from Shell Petroleum Development Company and everyone who collaborated with the NSCDC and EFCC in curtailing the spread of the inferno across neighboring properties.”
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