Officers of the Nigerian Security and Civl Defense Corp, NSCDC have identified two individuals in connection to sabotage, damage of critical infrastructure, and illegal trade or dealing in petroleum products.
The operatives were carrying out routine assignment under Commandant-generals Special intelligence squad when they apprehended the oil thieves.
According to Mr Babawale Afolabi, the Public relations officer of the corps, the suspects were arrested at the Ukwa west local government Area of Abia state.
The Corps PRO gave the names of the apprehended suspect as Jeremiah Ufok (Male) 28 years and Saviour Patrick (Male) 22 years.
He said they were caught siphoning crude oil from the pipelines and equally refining same into Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) using local cooking drums and pots.
The commander otd the squad, Appolos Dandaura express shock and disbelief that despite the early arrest of four persons in the area in connection with similar circumstances, people are hell bent on frustrating the economy of the country.
“We want to thank the public for the confidence reposed in NSCDC and their efforts by giving credible Information leading to the arrests of these suspects; we have briefed the CG about the arrest and we have his direct order to properly investigate and further arrests the sponsors and other accomplices who are currently at large.
“Notably, the arrest was a successful operation as we promptly responded to a sustained Intelligence tip-off that a group of notorious suspects were locally refining stolen crude oil at Open River Camp in Ukwa axis of Abia; some items recovered at the crime scene are: Kegs filled with AGO and DPK”, Dandaura said.
He noted that the suspects would be made to face the full wrath of the law after thorough investigation has been concluded.
