The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested 3 suspects for vandalism of oil pipeline, oil theft and illegal dealings in petroleum products at Umuodo, Umuajuloke Community in Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to a statement by CSC Babawale Afolabi, spokesperson of the NSCDC, issued to the press in Abuja, the suspects were arrested by the NSCDC Commandant General Special Intelligence Squad.
Afolabi said the arrest was made possible through sustained Intelligence that an illegal oil refinery was cited at the crime scene whereupon swinging into action a large quantity of illegally refined petroleum products suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were discovered.
“Based on credible Intelligence we swung into action and arrested 3 suspects at the crime scene with large quantities of illegally refined AGO already stored inside metallic drums while others were inside cellophane bags”.
“The arrested suspects are Happiness Nwankwo (F) 45 years who claimed to be an indigene of Omuma in Rivers State, Nnoma Nwankwo (F) 30 years also from Rivers State and Favour Amadi (F) from Omuma in the same Rivers.
“Some exhibits recovered at the point of arrest includes numerous drum ovens containing stolen and syphoned crude oil undergoing processing, Industrial hoses used to tap into well-heads to syphon crude oil, large quantities of stolen crude oil stored inside cellophane bags and kegs, Many metal and plastic buckets, Wheelbarrows, Shovels and Galvanized metal pipes”.
The NSCDC spokesperson said investigations have commenced to unravel the involvement of the 3 suspects and who their sponsors are.
He noted that at the expiration of a thorough investigation, whoever is found culpable would have their time in Court.
