Mkpoikana Udoma
16 December 2017, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt — The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, says that it secured conviction against 25 suspected oil thieves between January and December 2017.
The NSCDC disclosed that in the month of December alone, two suspects have been convicted and sentenced to four years imprisonment.
Speaking, the Rivers State Commandant of NSCDC, Mr. Mohammed Haruna said that the reason for the conviction was not to destroy the convicts but to serve as deterrent.
Haruna explained that the two convicts were arrested by Corps operatives for dealing with illegally refined Automated Gas Oil, otherwise known as diesel.
He warned residents in the state to steer clear of petroleum pipelines and assured of the Corps’ resolute commitment to safeguard the nation’s critical assets especially during the yuletide season.
“Following the quest to curb illegal dealing in petroleum product and pipeline vandalism in Rivers State, the Corps on 12th December, 2017 secured another conviction against two defendants, Nasiru Abubakar and Abdullahi Isah.
“They were convicted and sentenced to four years imprisonment for dealing in illegally refined AGO without licence and the truck in which they were arrested forfeited to the Federal Government and the AGO content destroyed.
“In the same vein, Nnamdi Alifor is serving two years jail term while others charged alongside with him are still facing trial for illegally conveying large quantity of crude oil without license.
“This brings the total number of conviction secured to 25 this year alone,” the NSCDC boss said.
