NSCDC bursts illegal oil storage site, arrests 19 suspects, others in Lagos

Etim Ekpimah

The CG Special Intelligence Squad, stormed Etal Avenue, off Kudirat, Abiola Way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos State, around 12:18hrs on Monday, 30th May 2022, where it burst an illegal oil storage site, where Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel, was being refined.

Abolurin Oluwaseun Olumide MA, Assistant Superintendent of Corps, Civil Defence Public Relations Officer (CDPRO), Lagos State Command, said the squad arrested a syndicate of suspected oil vandals, trucks, peddlers, buses, cash and cars, with machines and other implements used for perpetrating the heinous economic sabotage.

According to him, the squad which relies on intelligence, upon bursting the illegal oil site, where it was discovered that petroleum products were being illegally stored and refined, discovered and arrested the following persons and seized some items, which are 19 suspects; 18 male and one female; 81 trucks; nine buses; 12 pumping machines; 25 surface tanks; 140 drums containing illegally refined (AGO); 15 generators, and N4,000,000 in a car suspected to belong to the syndicate.

He added that the CG Special Intelligence Squad, immediately reinforced by the Anti-vandal team of the Lagos State Command, on the orders of the Commandant, NSCDC, Lagos State Command, Commandant Eweka Edenabu Douglas Okoro.

He added that the commandant directed that the arrested suspects be brought for interrogation and investigation, in the Intelligence and Investigation (INT) Department at the State Command Headquarters, Alausa, Ikeja, before further legal action on the matter.

“The Anti-vandal unit of the command has also been directed by the commandant to take full charge of the illegal oil site immediately, so as to forestall any further untoward activity by these economic saboteurs of our collective commonwealth.

“Commandant Eweka Okoro avows his unflinching commitment to the vision and mission of the Commandant General, CG Ahmed Abubakar Audi, PhD, mni, in relation to the eradication of illegal dealings in petroleum products and all forms of economic sabotage in the state and nation.

“The Commandant also said, ‘he seized this opportunity to warn oil thieves in the state to desist from the inimical act capable of sabotaging the nation’s economy with the disturbing untoward experiences it could bring upon the ordinary citizens of our nation,” he said.

The commandant warned that the failure of the unrepentant vandals and oil thieves to desist from the act will be meted with stiffer actions from the Command, which may eventually lead the culprits to face the full wrath of the law.