Akpan Umoh, Uyo
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has impounded two trucks loaded with 75,000 litres of products suspected to be adulterated Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and arrested four suspects in Akwa Ibom State.
The NSCDC Commandant in Akwa Ibom, Mr Eluyemi Eluwade, said this while briefing newsmen at the command’s exhibits yard in Uyo on Tuesday.
According to Eluwade, the four suspects were arrested Monday, September 25 at a fuel station along Abak Road in Uyo metropolis while trying to blend two products to make an Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
He added that the activity of the vandals and criminals could lead to the bleeding of the Nigerian economy, noting that a nation striving towards development could not afford to allow these kinds of things to go on.
“With the support of our Commandant General, Dr Audi Abubakar, our team of anti-vandals went out yesterday Sept. 25, 2023, arrested four suspects, impounded two trucks in a station, where they are trying to blend two products to make an Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
“The first truck contained 45, 000 litres of Dual-Purpose Kerosene (DPK), and the second one contained 30, 000 of Marine Diesel Oil called (MDO).
“And other items recovered at the site were; 13 nos 25 litres dissolver chemicals, four plastic hoses, two pumping machines, one generator, one electric pump and 2 flow metres.
“All these things are now in our own custody and investigation is ongoing. These set of people are trying to put two products to make it an AGO from our preliminary findings,” Eluwade said.
Eluwade appealed to all criminals in the state to turn a new leaf and stay away from illegal activities as the command would not relent in arresting them.
He said that the Nigerian economy has a strong presence in the oil industry, stressing that the Corps would continue to protect the industry as a strong national asset.
“We want the public to support our progress with credible intelligent information so 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.
The state commandant said that the suspects would be arraigned in Court as soon as the investigation is completed to serve as a deterrent to other criminals.