Oil thieves now convey illegal petroleum products to neighbouring states with Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to beat security checks, according to the Rivers State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Joachim Okafor.
He told the media in Port Harcourt, the state capital, that men of the command’s Anti-Vandal Unit on patrol intercepted three SUVs laden with unquantified adulterated gasoline oil (popularly known as diesel) in two border Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
Okafor explained that “the NSCDC Rivers State command’s anti-vandal unit was on patrol at Etche borders in Etche LG. On sighting the patrol team, suspected illegal oil bunkers abandoned a Toyota Sequoia Jeep fully loaded with AGO (popularly called Kpofire Diesel), and escaped into a nearby bush.
“The anti-vandal team also experienced a similar incident at Umungu community in Omuma LGA when some suspected oil thieves took to their heels as they saw the men of NSCDC on patrol, for fear of arrest. They quickly jumped out of the two Sequoia Jeeps they were using to convene the adulterated products and ran into a close-by forest.”
The NSCDC boss noted that the suspects, who are on the run, would soon be apprehended, adding that the seized vehicles and the petroleum product would be forfeited to the Federal Government.
He assured that, with the collaborative efforts of citizens, the command would not relent in securing critical national assets including pipelines against vandals and crude oil thieves who he noted are enemies of the country.
The NSCDC l commandant warned oil thieves to delve into meaningful ventures, as it would not spare any one arrested.
