Akpan Umoh, Uyo
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has impounded 170,000 litres of suspected adulterated Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and arrested 14 suspects in Akwa Ibom State.
The NSCDC Commandant, Akwa Ibom State, Mr Abidemi Majekodunmi, said this while briefing newsmen at the command’s exhibits yard in Uyo on Tuesday.
According to Majekodunmi. the 14 suspects were arrested on March 10 and 14 within Itu and Onna local government areas.
He said that the activity of the vandals and criminals could lead to the bleeding of the Nigerian economy, adding that a nation striving towards development could not afford to allow these kinds of things to be happening.
“NSCDC Akwa Ibom Command is here because of the arrest we have made. In our custody, we have 14 suspects and we also have as exhibits four trucks laden with suspected petroleum products.
“In total capacity, we have 170,000 litres of AGO inside the trucks. They were accosted in four different locations. Three of them fall within Itu LGA while the fourth one was arrested in Onna LGA of Akwa Ibom state
“Definitely, we are suspicious of the content of the trucks. From our preliminary investigation, we are suspected that these is adulterated petroleum products. We are working on the suspicion that it may be stolen products.
“Investigation is underway and we want to tell Akwa Ibom people that there is no breeding space for criminals and vandals in the state,” Majekodunmi said.
Majekodunmi added that the Commandant General, Mr Audi Abubakar has directed that under no circumstance should the command allow vandals to have breeding space.
The commandant said that the command has inaugurated “operation flush” to flush criminals out of the state.
The commandant added that the action was a contravention of the Nigerian state Constitution and NSCDC was committed to ensuring that the nation was free from vandalism.
“We want the public to support our progress with credible intelligent information, that we can actually execute our mandate and perform our constitutional duties and responsibilities.
“The Nigerian economy has a strong presence in the oil industry. We must protect this industry because it is a strong national asset and that is one of the advantages that we have as a nation.
“We want to tell the Nigerian people to shun illegalities and crime as NSCDC will not tolerate such activities,” he said.