Edo: NSCDC arrests four over alleged murder, dealing in adulterated petroleum product
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Edo Command, arrested four persons over alleged murder and dealing in suspected adulterated petroleum products.
NSCDC Commandant in the state, Mr Aniekan Udoeyop, made the disclosure while briefing journalists in Benin on Monday.
Udoeyop said that one of the suspects was arrested for alleged murder, as a decomposing corpse was found in a car parked beside an uncompleted building where he lived.
He explained that it was the residents of the area in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of the state, who had raised the alarm about their missing items.
“However upon investigation, our personnel uncovered the suspect who lived in the uncompleted building and had been selling stuffs to artisans who usually pick and buy condemned iron.
“It was based on this that our personnel in our area command in Ekpoma swiftly moved and arrested the suspect who confessed to only selling some unusable items to a certain buyer.
“He confessed to have sold an unusable wheelbarrow, a vulcanising engine and a stabiliser to the buyer, who was also promptly arrested.
“However, while he was locked up in our cell at our area command office, he attempted to escape, a situation which raised further suspicion about him.
“So our personnel had to go with him to the uncompleted building where they discovered a vehicle parked in the compound with a dead and decomposing body,” the commandant explained.
He said that the suspect, from Uromi in Esan North-East Local Government Area of the state, said that he opted for the uncompleted building because he could not afford his house rent and had been thrown out by his landlord.
The commandant added that on completion of investigation, the suspect and the person allegedly buying stolen items from him would be handed over to relevant authority.
Meanwhile, Udoeyop said that two other persons were also arrested in connection with dealing in adulterated petroleum product.
He said that the suspects were arrested on their way to Lokoja from Port Harcourt with the suspected adulterated automotive gas oil (AGO), popularly known as diesel, when they were intercepted by the personnel of the command.
The commandant said that the adulterated petroleum product, measuring about 18,000 litres, was being transported in drums.
He said that the suspects would be charged to court, to serve as a deterrent to those who usually vandalised oil pipelines and engaged in dealing in adulterated petroleum products.
