NSCDC nabs 8 suspects, impounds truck laden with 45,000 litres of illegally refined AGO

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Bayelsa State, on Tuesday, said it arrested eight suspects in its fight against oil thieves in the state.

NSCDC seized a truck laden with 45,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

Parading the suspects before newsmen at the Swali, Yenagoa Area Command of NSCDC, State Commandant, Edenabu Eweka said the suspects were arrested in two separate operations in the last week.

According to Eweka, three of the suspects were arrested at an illegal refinery site at Kolo in Ogbia Local Government Area (LGA) of Bayelsa State with the truck already filled with illegally refined AGO.

He explained that in the second operation on Feb 11, five suspected vandals were caught in the act at the Krokrosei-Azuzuama pipeline in Southern Ijaw LGA in Bayelsa.

According to Eweka, of the five suspects, four were identified to be suspected vandals while one is a buyer of the stolen crude.

“Our anti-oil theft and vandalism operations have paid off with the arrest of 0 with 45,000 litres of illegally refined AGO.

“This goes to send a strong signal to all those involved in oil theft and vandalism that the NSCDC will not give them a space to operate the illicit acts in Bayelsa.

“We shall take them to court and prosecute them diligently,” Eweka said.

He noted that the NSCDC as an environmentally responsible organisation prefers to seize the products and have them forfeited to the federal government on conviction of suspects.

He said that burning the seized products further degrades the environment.