The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad has arrested three suspects for oil pipeline vandalism, oil theft, and illegal petroleum product dealings in Umuodo, Umuajuloke Community, Omuma Local Government Area, Rivers State.
During a briefing on Monday, the CG’s SIS Commander, DC Apollo Dandaura, announced that the arrest was made possible by sustained intelligence that an illegal oil refinery was cited at the crime scene, prompting his command to sweep the area, resulting in the discovery of a large quantity of illegally refined petroleum products suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
He stated: “Based on credible intelligence, we swung into action and arrested three suspects at the crime scene. Large quantities of illegally refined AGO were already stored inside metallic drums, while others were inside cellophane bags.”
He indentified those arrested as Happiness Nwankwo (F) 45, who claimed to be an Omuma in Rivers State indigene, Nnoma Nwankwo (F) 30 years old, also from Rivers State, and Favour Amadi (F) from Omuma in the same Rivers State.
The commander said that “some exhibits recovered at the point of arrest are numerous drum ovens containing stolen and syphoned crude oil undergoing processing, industrial hoses used to tap into well-heads to syphon crude oil, large quantities of stolen crude oil stored inside cellophane bags and kegs, many metal and plastic buckets, wheelbarrows, shovels, and galvanised metal pipes.”
The CG SIS Commander hinted that investigations are underway to determine the involvement of the three suspects, and who their sponsors are.
He added that after a thorough investigation, whoever is found guilty will be charged to court.
