NSCDC arrests nine suspects over ‘illegal dealing of petroleum products’

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps  (NSCDC), Akwa Ibom state command, says it has arrested nine suspects over “illegal dealings” in petroleum products and other offences.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Eluyemi Eluwade, the state NSCDC commander, said the anti-vandal unit of the command made the arrest on July 14 along Ikot Abasi-Port Harcourt Expressway in Akwa Ibom.

He said the corps also impounded three trucks conveying 135,000 litres of petroleum products.

“The trucks were halted for routine inspection of documents by NSCDC personnel who insisted on sighting relevant papers including licence to buy, sell and convey petroleum products as stipulated in the Petroleum Industry Act,” he said.

“The inability of the suspects to produce complete relevant documents led to their arrest and their trucks impounded for illegal dealing in petroleum products, an offence punishable by section 17 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

“Two of the trucks were conveying about 45,000 litres each of automative gas oil (AGO) popularly known as diesel.

“The third truck was conveying about 45,000 litres of petroleum product suspected to be crude oil or used engine oil, a petroleum by-product for which a license is also required to buy, sell or transport.”

The state commandant noted that another suspect was also arrested by operatives of the NSCDC on July 15 in Idu Uruan, Uruan LGA, for alleged criminal conspiracy, tampering and theft of armoured cable in a transformer at the Nigeria Medical Association center in Uruan.

He said the suspect, who is currently under investigation, was said to have connived with criminals who breached the security of the facility under his watch as a guard, vandalised and stole armoured cable.

The commandant said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded to serve as deterrent to others.

Eluwade warned against vandalism of  public utilities, describing it as a crime against the society, as it would deprive everyone the common good they were meant to enjoy.