In a press statement, Commandant Eweka Okoro avows his unflinching commitment to the renewed charge of the Commandant General in relation to the eradication of all forms of economic sabotage in the state, the spokesman for the Corps, Abolurin Oluwaseun Olumide, said.
The Commandant General (CG), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), CG Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has recently reiterated his vow to stamp out oil pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering, illegal dealings in petroleum products, illegal mining of solid and natural minerals, and other disheartening forms of economic sabotage being perpetrated by criminal elements in our dear nation.
In line with the renewed charge of the CG above, the Commandant, NSCDC, Lagos State Command, Commandant Eweka Edenabu Okoro, has earlier today, Monday, September 12, 2022, ordered the parade of suspected oil thieves, arrested by the new Anti-Vandal team of the Command, in connection to their engagement in the sale of adulterated Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel, at two different locations in the state.
The Commandant, while addressing newsmen today, said, “The repositioned Anti-Vandal team, formed up to invest new morale and vigour into the Command’s Anti-Vandal operations, stormed the first illegal oil thrives at about 14:00hrs on Friday, September 9th, 2022, while on routine and surveillance patrol, which led to the arrest of 2 suspects at Ikate Junction, Lekki-Epe, Expressway, where they were caught conveying suspected adulterated AGO, also known as diesel, for commercial purposes.”
In the same vein, the Anti-Vandal team also arrested three suspects, in connection with the same crime above, at another location, at Admiralty Way, Lekki Roundabout, at about 16:35hrs.
The Anti – Vandal team highlighted the details of the suspects and other items recovered, with locations of arrest, respectively, as follows :
i) five (5) suspects; five (5) male;
Anthony Okeyim (m) 54yrs, Isah Dauda (m) 40yrs, were arrested at (Ikate Junction, Lekki – Epe Expressway), Charles Okere (m) 50yrs, Chibuike Joanes (m) 28yrs, and Jenuwa James (m) 65yrs were arrested at Admiralty Way, Lekki roundabout at about 16:35hrs, on 9th September, 2022.
(ii) Trucks recovered from both points of arrest, respectively, include the following below :
(a) Mercedes-Benz Peddler Truck with Reg., No : TI3643LA, containing estimated 3,700 litres of suspected adulterated AGO.
(b) Peddler Truck with Reg., No : TI5YILA, containing unquantified substance suspected to be adulterated AGO.
(c) Peddler Truck with Reg., No: TTD 583 – ZY (Mercedes – Benz), containing 12,500 litres of suspected adulterated AGO.
(d) Man Diesel Peddler Truck with Reg., No : MUS49XK, containing 1,200ltrs of suspected adulteration AGO.
The Commandant, NSCDC, Lagos State Command, Commandant Eweka Edenabu Okoro, has also since directed immediately that the arrested suspects be brought for adequate interrogation and investigation in the Intelligence and Investigation (INT) Department , at the State Command Headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja, before further legal action will be taken on the matter.
The newly reformed Anti – Vandal team of the Command has also been directed by the Commandant to remain fully focused in their renewed fight against oil thieves in order to forestall any further untoward activity by these economic saboteurs, who usually bring hardship on the people through their dastardly acts.
Finally, Commandant Eweka Okoro, while addressing newsmen at the State Command’s Headquarters earlier this morning, seized the opportunity to sound a new note of warning to vandals and illegal oil dealers or thieves in the state, to permanently desist from the act. However, he avowed his unflinching commitment to the vision and mission of the Commandant General, CG Ahmed Abubakar Audi, in relation to the eradication of illegal dealings in petroleum products and all forms of economic sabotage in the state and nation.
The Commandant also said, “He further seized this opportunity to warn oil thieves in the state to desist from the inimical act capable of sabotaging the nation’s economy with the disturbing untoward experiences it could bring upon the ordinary citizens of our nation.”
“He, however, warned that the failure of the unrepentant vandals and oil thieves to desist from the act will be meted out with stiffer actions from the command, which may eventually make the culprits face the full wrath of the law.”
