The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has impounded five trucks in Rivers State for transporting illegally refined petroleum products.
One suspect was also apprehended for his involvement in oil theft and illegal petroleum product dealings.
While three of the five trucks were impounded by a Joint Task Force for transporting 142,000 litres of petroleum products without haulage licenses and other required documents, the other two trucks were impounded by the Command’s Antivandal Team, according to Michael Ogar, NSCDC State Commandant in Rivers.
Ogar stated that one Abubakar Suleiman, 20, was apprehended by the Command’s Antivandal Team on Azikiwe road in Port Harcourt while driving an open body long truck with constructed inner tanks.
Ogar explained that the suspect loaded petroleum products into hidden tanks on the truck and covered them with animal feeds to divert the attention of security men on the way, but the truck was impounded and the suspect arrested due to the security men’s eagle eyes.
Following a tip, another long truck was impounded while transporting illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) with noodles packs, according to the NSCDC boss.
He assured Nigerians that after a thorough investigation, the suspect would be charged in court, and the tankers and their contents would be forfeited to the Federal Government after a court of competent jurisdiction rendered a decision.
The NSCDC chief stated that the three-month crackdown on illegal bunkering activities in Rivers has been largely successful, noting that soot in the state’s atmosphere has significantly decreased.
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