Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have arrested five suspects and impounded approximately 20,000 litres of crude oil, allegedly siphoned from a vandalized pipeline along the Umielechi/Izam Community in Abia State.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, NSCDC Public Relations Officer Babawale Afolabi said the arrest was made following intelligence received by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG SIS).
According to him, the Commander of the CG Special Intelligence Squad, Commandant Appolos Dandaura, disclosed that his team arrested five suspects and impounded about 20,000 litres of crude oil, which had been siphoned from a vandalized pipeline along the Umielechi/Izam Community in Abia State.
He said, “The Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad has made another landmark achievement in the fight against crude oil theft across the nation.”
“Acting on the directive of the Commandant General, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, who declared zero tolerance for vandalism and crude oil theft while decorating the CG SIS Commander with his new rank, noted that ‘to whom much is given, much is expected,'” Afolabi stated.
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Speaking further, Commandant Appolos revealed that the CG SIS acted on credible intelligence and pursued the suspects, who almost escaped using motorcycles, in the Obuzor ASA axis, Ukwa West of Abia State.
“We acted based on the intelligence at our disposal, and during a midnight raid, we arrested the five suspects with stolen crude oil carefully packed in cellophane bags,” he said.
The suspects, who were caught red-handed, are: Daniel Augustine, 20; Moses Friday, 23; Igboshe Musua, 42; Sadiq Yunusa, 28; and Dozie Ugo, 33. Items recovered as exhibits include approximately 20,000 litres of siphoned crude oil, two Dalong Super Wolf motorcycles, a Qlink 150-ES electric start motorcycle, and a Nasara Super D-S 150 motorcycle.
Reaffirming his commitment to the directive of the Commandant General, the Squad Commander stated that the Corps remains determined to relentlessly fight vandals and oil thieves, as it is committed to protecting all critical national assets and infrastructure.
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