Abia NSCDC parade 16 oil thieves, vandals

The Abia State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on today paraded sixteen persons for allegedly stealing/selling of crude oil and vandalization of “critical” national assets and infrastructure.

The State Commandant, Mr. Vincent Ogu while parading the suspects at the State Command’s Headquarters stated that the arrest of the suspects was the command’s major breakthrough in the fight against oil theft, oil bunkery, illegal dealing in petroleum products and willful vandalism.

The NSCDC Abia Commandant disclosing how the Sixteen (16) Suspects were arrested said that the oil thieves were arrested at different locations in the State for offences bothering on oil bunkering and illegal buying and selling of petroleum products.

According to him, preliminary investigation revealed that neither of the arrested suspects had the license to deal in petroleum products nor does any of the trucks and passenger vehicles have haulage permit that allowed them to be used for such purpose.

Some of the Suspects during interrogation gave their names Babangida Saleh (M) (35), Abubakar Ibrahim (M) (22), Bukar Ali (M) (30), Mohammed Mohammed (M) (32), Lawrence Ahmed (M) (27), Johnson Akinrinola (M) (29), Ofo- Obong Francis (M) (18), Elijah Peters (M) (39), Chinyere Ezeali (F) (35), Lawal Ibrahim (M) (35), Haruna Zuberu (M) (31), Daniel Ikechukwu (M) (29), Ugochukwu Alozie (M) (29), Abdullahi Adamu M 28, Bala Isah (M) (30), Sani Mohammed M 27.

In a further breakdown, Ogu said that Babangida Saleh (M) (35), Abubaka Ibrahim (M) (22), Bukar Ali (M) (30), Mohammed Mohammed (M) (32) were arrested at Ubakala Junction along Enugu Port Harcourt Expressway on March 17 at about 11:20am while conveying about Thirty Thousand Liters (30,000lts) of suspected Petroleum Product that they couldn’t account for in a truck with Reg. No: GYA611XA.

Three (3) other suspects who gave their names as: Lawrence Ahmed (M) (27), Johnson Akinrinola (M) (29), Ofo- Obong Francis (M) (18) were arrested at Ihie in Ugwunagbo LGA of Abia State on March 17 as well, at about 12:45pm while conveying about ten (10) drums of petroleum product concealed in a white colored Volkswagen Bus with Reg. No: EZA879XA.

“The suspects had loaded some bags of items suspected to be sawdust on top of the concealed petroleum products to beat Security.

“Four (4) other suspects; Elijah Peters (M) (39), Chinyere Ezeali (F) (35), Lawal Ibrahim (M) (35), Haruna Zuberu (M) (31), were arrested at Cale- Betoo Petrol Station, Aba-Port-Harcourt Expressway Imo Gate in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State for their alleged involvement in oil bunkering activities with a truck with Reg. No: DKA3532P

“Daniel Ikechukwu (M) (29), Ugochukwu Alozie (M) (29) were arrested along Aba Road, Umuahia while conveying about Fourteen thousand liters (14,000lts) of adulterated petroleum products in a truck with Reg. No: EKY857XY

“Abdullahi Adamu M 28, Bala Isah (M) (30), Sani Mohammed (M) (27) were arrested at Umuaika junction on 18th March, 202,1, in Isialangwa South LGA of Abia State while conveying about twenty thousand liters (20,000lts) of petroleum products suspected to be AGO in a truck with reg no: NSR311XA

“In the case of the Toyota Camry car with Reg. No: KPR413EE which was impounded by the Men of the Anti-Vandal Unit, the suspects on sighting the operatives of the corps on routine patrol took to their heels and abandoned the car which was already loaded with about fifteen (15) Nylon bags of two hundred and fifty liters (250lts) each of petroleum products suspected to be AGO.”

Ogu praised the gallantry and professionalism being exhibited by his men in the discharge of their duties which he said led to the successful arrest of the suspects who have been on the Command’s wanted list.

He charged his men to re-double their efforts in delivering quality Security Services to the Good people of the State as a way of reciprocating the Commandant General’s good gestures.

Speaking on the sideline of the parade, Ogu said “My command is enjoying a robust relationship with other sister security agencies in the state. Let me seize this opportunity to reiterate that synergy and collaboration among Security agencies hold the solution to the Security challenges bedeviling the Nation at the moment. I appreciate the 14 Brigade Commander Nigerian Army Ohafia, and the Commander Nigerian Navy Finance and Logistics, Naval Base, Owerrinta for their support in logistics and intelligence information sharing.

“Recently the Command received some suspects and trucks from the Nigeria Army and Nigerian Navy respectively for further investigation in their alleged involvement in bunkering activities/illegal oil dealings and possible prosecution. This can only happen where there is healthy synergy”.

Giving assurances of diligent prosecution of the suspects at the court of competent jurisdiction upon conclusion of investigations, the Abia NSCDC Boss said “My Command has secured has secured five (5) convictions at the federal High Court, Umuahia within my 5months in the Office as the 10th substantive State Commandant of NSCDC Abia State Command. This information has become necessary so that the general public will know that beyond arresting vandals, the Corps is committed to their diligent prosecution”.

Ogu, re-echoing the zero tolerance directive of the New Commandant-General of the Corps Ahmed Audu against all forms of Vandalism of critical national assets in various parts of the country stated that the orders of the corps’ Commandant must be carried out to save the Nation’s Economy and by extension justify the Establishment of the Corps.

He warned that “all forms of economic sabotage will no longer be condoned. Any attack on the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure is an attack on the economic wellbeing of every Nigerian and this, the Corps must vehemently resist.

“I therefore call on those indulging in any form of illegal dealings in petroleum products to desist from it and engage themselves in legitimate means of livelihood.

“Parents are hereby advised to monitor the activities of the wards as anyone caught shall face the full wrath of the law”.