NSCDC parades four suspects for vandalising Agip pipelines

Delta State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has paraded four Suspects who allegedly vandalised Agip gas pipeline and dealing in adulterated petroleum products valued at millions of naira.

Those paraded by the state commandant, Jimoh Suleiman Agboola include: one Henry Kpolugeo, a driver; Adamu Haruna, a motor boy and Edema Pascal, also a motor boy, while the kingpin, Kanu Paul escaped.

Agboola, who paraded the suspects at the command’s headquarters in Asaba, on Wednesday evening, said they were arrested on April 14, 2023 at about 0250hrs after a case of dealing in petroleum suspected to be adulterated and without license authority, was established against them.

He said they were arrested while conveying what he called “117 PSC” or four by seven inches vandalised gas pipes from the location to Ashaka on an IVECO Stralis Truck with Reg. No Kogi: LAM 740 LG”.

The command’s boss also hinted that the special team was on routine patrol along Ajagbodudu in Ethiope West and intercepted a white Ford bus hidden in the forest, upon sighting the NSCDC officials fled and abandoned the bus, which was discovered to be conveying suspected local AGO bagged in nylon bags and sacks.

Automotive Gas oil (AGO), also known as diesel, is used to power internal combustion diesel engines efficiently.

Agboola revealed that officers and men of the anti- vandal unit of NSCDC on April 7, 2023 at the Ugbennu community along Benin/Sapele expressway in Ethiope West, arrested a truck following an intelligent report that the driver was allegedly involved in the adulterated products, and “the suspect is in the custody and has given useful information that will aid intelligence department in their investigation.”

“The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) invited and sample taken for analysis. We are waiting for the outcome of the results, which will determine whether the matter will be charged to court or not,” he added.

Following this ugly development, the State commandant advised the “truck driver to beware of entrapment of the lifting scraps, with the intention to make money, as there are no scraps in Agip location and any other oil facility.

He also advised those dealing in petroleum products to operate in a regulated industry, with proper license acquired before dealing in any petroleum products, while members of the public should be wary of using adulterated products because of its attendant danger to machine and vehicles.