NSCDC arrests 19 suspects, 81 vehicles at illegal oil storage site in Lagos
…Nabs three suspected vandals in Katsina
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, says it has arrested 19 suspects and recovered 81 vehicles at an illegal oil storage site in Ikeja.
The Command said N4 million cash, 140 drums containing illegally refined AGO, 15 power generating sets,12 pumping machines, 25 surface tanks among other items were also recovered from the site.
A statement signed by Mr Oluwaseun Abolurin, the Spokesman for the command on Tuesday, said the suspects were refining Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel, at the site.
“The CG Special Intelligence Squad, in realisation of their responsibilities, stormed Etal Avenue, off Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos State, at about 12:18hrs, on Monday, May 30, 2022, where it busted an illegal oil storage site, where Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel, is being refined.
“The squad arrested 19 suspects (18 male and one female), 81 trucks, nine buses, 12 pumping machines, 25 surface tanks, 140 drums containing illegally refined AGO, 115 generators and N4 million cash found in a car suspected to belong to the syndicate.
“The CG Special Intelligence Squad, relied basically on credible intelligence, coupled with the re-invigorated 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,” it said.
The statement said that the state Commandant, Mr Eweka Okoro, had directed the anti-vandal unit of the command to take full charge of the illegal oil site.
“The commandant seizes this opportunity to warn oil thieves in the state to desist from the inimical act capable of sabotaging the nation’s economy,” the statement read.
In a similar development, the NSCDC in Katsina State arrested a 58-year old man, Haris Ishaq and two others over their suspected involvement in electricity facility vandalism.
The Command’s Spokesman, DSC Mohammed Abdara, said during a news conference on Tuesday in Katsina.
Abdara said the suspects were arrested on May 16, over their alleged vandalism of high tension electricity cables along Sabongida-Bugaje Road, in Jibia Local Government Area.
He said that the Command’s anti-vandal team arrested the suspects during a routine patrol exercise in the area.
“This breakthrough came as a result of our resolve to fight all forms of crimes and criminalities in the state.
“The principal suspect, Haris Ishaq, is a native of Yangero village, in Jibia Local Government Area,” he said.
The Spokesman said that Ishaq had already confessed his involvement in the crime.
“The suspect has already confessed to have sold some of the vandalised cables,” he said.
Abdara said that the other two suspects, Auwal Hamisu, 28, and Ibrahim Sabi, 35, were arrested because of their suspected complicity in the crime.
He said that Hamisu, a resident of Yarnmawa Quarters, Katsina Metropolis, bought 30kg of the cables at the cost of N9500.
According to him, Sani, who resides at Sabongida Quarters, aided the lead suspect to commit the crime.
The Spokesman said the command had concluded its investigation on the matter, and would soon prosecute the suspects.
He expressed the commitment of the NSCDC command to collaborate with other security agencies to fight crime and insecurity in the state.
He urged members of the public to assist security agencies with reliable intelligence to enable them perform effectively.
Abdara said that anyone perpetrating crime in the state would be made to face the law.
