NSCDC bursts illegal oil storage site, arrests 19 suspects
By Paul Michael, Defence Editor, Abuja
Lagos State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has busted an illegal oil storage site in Oregun, Ikeja, where Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) also known as diesel, is being refined and arrested 19 suspected oil vandals, trucks, peddlers, buses, cash and cars, and other machines used for perpetrating the heinous economic sabotage.
Assistant Superintendent of Corps (ASCI), Abolurin Oluwaseun Olumide, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, adding that the head of the Command, Commandant Eweka Okoro, avowed his unflinching commitment to the vision of the Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, in eradicating illegal dealings in petroleum products and all forms of economic sabotage in Lagos state.
Recall that recently in a meeting with the Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel, Uche Ogar, the NSCDC boss 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 the country.
According to Olumide, “The Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad, inaugurated towards the tale of the year 2021, at the NSCDC, National Headquarters, in Abuja, is also one of the multidimensional approaches being deployed by the CG to squash the desecrating activities of oil pipeline vandals and the asymmetric war, the nation is being faced with today.”
He added, “The CG Special Intelligence Squad, in the realisation of their responsibilities, stormed Etal Avenue, off Kudirat, Abiola Way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos State, at about 12:18hrs, Monday, 30th May 2022, where it burst an illegal oil storage site, where Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel, is being refined, arrested a syndicate of suspected oil vandals, trucks, peddlers, buses, cash and cars, with machines and other implements used for perpetrating the heinous economic sabotage.
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“The CG Special Intelligence Squad, relied basically on credible intelligence, coupled with the reinvigorated vigour of the Squad, in line with the CG’s charge to stamp out the oil thieves in the Oregun area of Lagos state and other states of the nation.
“The CG Special Intelligence Squad, upon bursting the illegal oil site, where it was discovered that petroleum products were being illegally stored and refined, as well discovered and arrested the following persons and items: (i) Nineteen (19) suspects; Eighteen (18) male and one (1) female, (ii) Eighty-one (81) trucks, (iii) Nine (9) bus, (iv) Twelve (12) pumping machines, (v) Twenty-five (25) surface tanks, (vi) One hundred and forty (140) drums containing illegally refined (AGO), (vii) Fifteen (15) generators and (viii) four million (4,000,000) Naira in cash found in a car suspected to belong to the syndicate.
“The Squad was immediately re-enforced by the Anti-vandal team of the Lagos State Command, on the swift orders of the Commandant, NSCDC, Lagos State Command, Commandant Eweka Edenabu Douglas Okoro, msc, acma, cna, who clinically directed 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 Anti-vandal unit of the Command has also been directed by the Commandant to take full charge of the illegal oil site immediately, so as to forestall any further untoward activity by these economic saboteurs of our collective commonwealth.
“Finally, Commandant Eweka Okoro avows his unflinching commitment to the vision and mission of the Commandant General, CG Ahmed Abubakar Audi, PhD, mni, in relation to the eradication of illegal dealings in petroleum products and all forms of economic sabotage in the State and Nation.”
According to him, the Commandant warned 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. Adding that failure of the unrepentant vandals and oil thieves to desist from the act will be meted with stiffer actions from the Command, which may eventually lead the culprits to face the full wrath of the law.
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