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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has arrested four suspects for allegedly vandalising and stealing crude oil in Abia.
This is contained in a statement signed by the NSCDC Public Relations Officer (PRO), Afolabi Babawale, on Thursday in Abuja.
Babawale said that the suspects were arrested by the NSCDC Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS) at Agric Waterside Camp Umuorie, Obuzor/Asa axis of Ukwa West LGA of Abia.
The spokesperson said that reports from the CG’s SIS commander, Dandaura Appolos, indicated that the suspects were deeply involved in the siphoning of crude oil after vandalising pipelines.
“Immediately nemesis caught up with the suspects, they began to confess their involvement that after breaking the pipeline they connected hoses or galvanised pipes.
“They buried them underground and channeled the pipes to their constructed reservoirs, refining pots and storage tanks
“Our men further made discoveries of different sizes of cooking ovens like two to three drums capacity and separate reservoirs for storing adulterated diesel and kerosene,” Appolos said.
He added that the corps recovered from the male suspects aged between 23 and 36, large quantities of stolen crude oil concealed in cellophane bags.
Other items were: over 20,000 litres of automotive gas oil, metal and plastic buckets, shovels, galvanised pipes, clothings, slippers and funnels.
The PRO further said that the alleged vandals would be charged to court after thorough investigation.
