
Operatives of the Nigeria Security And Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have intercepted 2 tankers each laden with 47,000 litres of suspected stolen crude at Akunza Obi Local Government Area in Nassarawa state.
The Corps’ Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, who disclosed this on Friday via its Facebook page, said 4 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure.
He said that upon receipt of credible intelligence regarding the trucks, operatives of the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad swung into action and intercepted the vehicle, a DAF XF Model and a MARK model, both white and with registration numbers YEN-655 KW and KZR-733 XA.
Preliminary investigation reports revealed that the contents were loaded and conveyed with counterfeit waybills, and the trucks were also bearing fictitious number plates.
Information volunteered by the truck drivers further showed that the two trucks were loaded at a dump and took off from a suspected loading point in Port Harcourt, Rivers while one of the trucks was supposed find its way to Jos, Plateau state.
It was also gathered that prior to the arrest one of the trucks was waiting for further directives on where to deliver the product.
“Following the arrest, these suspects are currently helping us with necessary investigation”, Afolabi said. The arrested suspects are: Nafiu Aminu, Sanni Mohammed, Abdullahi Awolu and Babpa Awal.
Meanwhile, in a new year charge to all formations, Special units, crack squads and Antivandal operatives across the federation, the Commandant General of the Corps Dr Ahmed Audi, has declared war against all vandals and those dealing illegally in petroleum products.
While decrying the unrepentant acts of criminal minded persons living large on proceeds of oil theft, Dr. Audi noted that the NSCDC as lead agency in protection of critical national assets and infrastructure would continue to fight relentlessly and arrest and prosecute oil thieves in the country according to the laws of the federation.
He further commended the CG Special Intelligence Squad led by Commandant Appolos Dandaura for the arrest of the trucks and enjoined the public to continue to partner with the Corps by giving credible Information that would lead to the arrests of oil thieves across board.