The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Anambra State Command, said that it is committed to eliminating the threat posed by theft of crude oil, illicit sales of petroleum products, and vandalism of oil pipelines. It has also promised to do all it takes to eradicate vandals from the state.
Edwin Osuala, the NSCDC Commandant for Anambra State, made this announcement in Awka on Tuesday, not long after six suspects were taken into custody by Nigerian Navy officers at Onitsha Outpos.
The suspects were turned over to the NSCDC leadership so that they might be looked into further and face legal action.
The state public relations Officer of the NSCDC, Okadigbo Edwin, revealed this in a press release on Tuesday.
In the statement, it was stated that on March 11, 2023, at approximately 6:00 a.m., three individuals—Ugwu Donatus “m,” who was fifty-seven years old; Chukwudi Eke “m,” who was fifty-two years old; and Nwabueze Daniel “m,” who was thirty years old—were taken into custody along Atani Road, Odekpe Community in Ogbaru LGA of Anambra State. The individuals were transporting seven sack bags of petroleum products, approximately 3,500 liters of suspected adulterated automotive gas oil in a white Nissan vehicle bearing the registration number Enugu ENU 391 XX.
“Similarly, on November 7, 2023, at approximately 13:00 hours, two white J5 Vans with the registration numbers Anambra XA 929 ZBL and Anambra AWK 776 YZ, carrying 100 sack bags of products suspected to be illegally refined automotive gas oil estimated to be about 5,000 liters, were arrested within the Odekpe Community in Ogbaru LGA. The three individuals arrested are Chinedu Okafor, age 32, Abu Galaddima, age 42, and Rishamah Abbass, age 29.
Osuala further said that preliminary findings from investigations indicated that the goods loaded in Osssamala Community in Ogbaru LGA were first traveling to Upper Iweka and then to their intended location.
He added that continuous monitoring is in place to apprehend one Emeka Emeka, who is purported to be the owner of the products, but that he is now at large.
All of the detained suspects, according to the head of the NSCDC command, are providing the command with helpful information that will aid in the capture of their collaborators.
Nonetheless, he praised the Navy for the arrest, stating that the NSCDC and the Navy’s combined efforts had produced numerous successes in the nation’s battle against economic crimes.
“I would like to express my gratitude to the Nigerian Navy for supporting the Corps in its role as the principal organization in safeguarding vital national resources and eliminating illicit activities related to petroleum products,” he stated. As soon as these suspects and the exhibits were successfully turned over to us, we would begin a reliable inquiry.
“We are reassuring the public and the Navy that a thorough investigation will be conducted on the suspects and any other offenders connected to the case in order to potentially prosecute them.
The fact that the suspects and the exhibits were turned over to the NSCDC shows that the security organizations in Anambra State are working together to combat crime. This kind of cooperation is required to fight the horrible crime’s perpetrators on a large scale.
“We have turned on our operating mechanism in every crevice of Anambra State to make this location hot for these economic saboteurs to operate in, so I want to urge them to avoid this state. They ought to either start over or hunt for a respectable business venture.
He also issued a warning to anyone involved in unlawful bunkering, pipeline vandalism, oil theft, or other criminal activity to leave the state because there is nowhere for them to hide.
In order to help stop the actions of criminal elements and economic saboteurs, he urged the public to exercise caution and to give the Command reliable information.