YULETIDE SECURITY: NSCDC NABS 9 SUSPECTED CRUDE OIL THIEVES IN IMO

REPORTER: CHINAZO ILECHUKWU

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) says it is deploying over one thousand six hundred personnel to complement the efforts of other security agencies in guaranteeing security during and after the Christmas and New Year festivities.

The Imo State Commandant of the Corps, Mr. Mathew Ovye, made this known in Owerri while parading nine suspected crude oil vandals nabbed at an illegal refinery at Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area of the state.

He said operatives of the Corps in collaboration with a private security outfit stormed an illegal refinery located at Abacheke in Ohaji Egbema where crude oil acquired through pipeline vandalism was being refined.

They recovered a substantial amount of crude oil and refined automotive gas oil (AGO) otherwise known as diesel.

Mr. Ovye said the Command was ready to ensure adequate protection of lives and property and called on those wishing to return to the state during the yuletide to do so without fear of molestation.

The Commandant said the suspects would appear in court as soon as investigations were concluded.

He pointed out that the Command had numerous cases of pipeline vandalism pending in the courts.

Some of the suspects, who were artisans, denied involvement in crude oil theft but admitted that they were hired to convey the products from the bush to the road by the dealers.

The Command had two weeks ago paraded six persons for allegedly being in possession of about 30,000 litres of adulterated automotive gas oil in the state.  

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU