By Jude Michael
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Anambra State Command, has come all out to stop crude oil theft, illegal dealings on petroleum products and oil pipeline vandalism.
Edwin Osuala, the State Commandant, gave this assurance in Awka on Tuesday shortly after receiving six suspects apprehended by officers of the Nigerian Navy, Onitsha Outpost, and handed over to the Command for further investigation and prosecution in court.
According to the NSCDC State Command boss, on November 3 at about 6am, one Ugwu Donatus aged 57; Chukwudi Eke aged 52; and one Nwabueze Daniel aged 30, respectively, were arrested along Atani Road, Odekpe Community, Ogbaru LGA of Anambra State, conveying 70 sack bags of petroleum products estimated to be about 3,500 litres of suspected adulterated Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in a white Nissan vehicle with registration no: ENUGU ENU 391 XX.
Similarly, on the 7th of November at about 1am, one Chinedu Okafor aged 32; Abu Galaddima aged 42; and Rishamah Abbass aged 29, respectively, were arrested within Odekpe Community, Ogbaru with two white J 5 Vans with registration nos: ANAMBRA XA 929 ZBL and ANAMBRA AWK 776 YZ, laden with 100 Sack bags of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) estimated to be about 5,000 litres.
Preliminary investigations carried out suggested that the products loaded at Ossamala Community in Ogbaru LGA were headed to Upper Iweka before their final destination.
Meanwhile, according to Osuala, one Mr. Emeka Emeka who is alleged to be the owner of the products is currently at large, while sustained monitoring is in place to arrest him.
‘Consequently, all the suspects are assisting the command with useful information that will help in arresting their accomplices,’ Osuala stated
He lauded the Navy for the arrest, saying that the synergy between the NSCDC and the Navy had yielded many results in the fight against economic crimes in the country.
‘I want to commend the Nigerian Navy for assisting the Corps, being the lead agency in the protection of critical national assets and in the eradication of illegal dealings on petroleum products. With the successful hand over of these suspects and the exhibits to us; we will immediately launch a credible investigation.
‘We are assuring the Navy and members of the public that proper investigation will be carried out on the suspects and any other culprits involved with the case for possible prosecution.
‘The handing over of the suspects and the exhibits to the NSCDC is a sign that security agencies operating in Anambra State are united in crime fighting. This synergy is what is needed to wage a full scale war against the perpetrators of the heinous crime,’ Osuala said.
The NSCDC State helmsman warned all perpetrators of oil theft, illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism and other criminal activities to relocate outside the state as there was no hiding place for them in and around the state.
‘I want to advise these economic saboteurs to steer clear of Anambra State because we have activated our operational mechanism in all the nooks and crannies of the state to make this place hot for them to operate. They should either look for legitimate business to engage in or turn a new leaf,’ he concluded, while advising members of the public to be vigilant and provide the Command with credible information to assist in curbing the activities of criminal elements and economic saboteurs.
