The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Rivers State
has impounded five trucks and arrested a suspect for alleged oil theft.
The state commandant of the corps, Michael Ogar, said this
in a statement issued by the corps spokesperson, Olufemi Ayodele, on Friday in
Port Harcourt.
He said that the trucks were impounded for conveying
petroleum products without haulage licences and other required documents.
The commandant said that the suspect, Abubakar Suleiman, 20
years, was arrested for conveying illegally refined products in a truck in Port
Harcourt.
“Based on sustained intelligence, our anti-vandal team
arrested one suspect who loaded petroleum products in hidden tanks on the truck
and used animal feeds to cover them, so as to divert the attention of security
men on the way, but with the eagle eyes of our men, the products were
discovered and the truck was impounded and the suspect arrested.
“Following a tip-off, we also impounded a long truck with
registration number: OGUN DED 643 XB. The suspects upon sighting our men took
to their heels,” he said.
Ogar added that the truck was conveying illegally refined
automotive gas oil with packs of noodles.
“While on routine patrol at Mbiama in Ahoada West Local
Government area, the Rivers Joint Task Force, made up of the Nigerian Army, the
Navy, the Air force, the Police and the NSCDC impounded tree trucks for
transporting illegally refined petroleum products.
“We impounded a white truck with registration number AFM 604
XA conveying an estimated value of 54,000 litres of premium motor spirit,
popularly called petrol.
“A white IVECO truck with registration number DKA 374 XE was
also impounded while transporting PMS with estimated value of 52,000 litres,”
Ogar said.
He further stated that another truck loaded with 36,000
litres of PMS was impounded, adding that the last three trucks had been taken
to the command’s exhibit yard at Ogbogoro jetty.