The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Anambra State Command, has impounded a truck suspected to be conveying 45,000 litres of adulterated Automotive Gas Oil mixed with gas condensates.
The NSCDC state commandant, Maku Olatunde, disclosed this to journalists at the NSCDC state command Headquarters, Awka, on Wednesday, adding that the truck was seized during an inspection.
He explained that upon sighting the NSCDC team, the driver abandoned the truck with the products and fled the scene.
Olatunde added that credible intelligence led by the Head of the Anti-Vandalism Squad, CSC Chris Nwosu, and his team tracked and intercepted the truck on Tuesday, at about 1645 hours along Awka Road, Onitsha.
According to him, the exercise is in continuation of its operations in tandem with the Commandant General’s vision to eradicate the menace of vandalism of oil pipelines and illegal dealings in petroleum products across the nation.
“The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Anambra State Command, in continuation of its operations in tandem with the Commandant General’s vision to eradicate the menace of vandalism of oil pipelines and illegal dealings in petroleum products across the nation, has impounded a truck suspected to be conveying 45,000 litres of adulterated Automotive Gas Oil mixed with gas condensates, after the driver fled the scene,” he said.
“Credible intelligence led the Head of the Anti-Vandalism Squad, CSC Chris Nwosu, and his team to track and intercept the truck on Tuesday, at about 1645 hours along Awka Road, Onitsha.”
“Upon sighting the NSCDC team, the driver abandoned the truck with the products and fled the scene.”
“The Command, in ensuring the seized consignments did not find their way to the market, took the truck and the suspected adulterated product to the State Command Headquarters, Awka, for safe custody and further investigations.”
He further reiterated that the Corps will not relent in the fight against oil theft and illegal dealings in petroleum products until the state is rid of all forms of economic sabotage.
The Commandant assured that samples of the product would be taken for laboratory analysis, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing driver and his accomplices. He warned perpetrators of such acts to desist or face the full wrath of the law.
“We are ready to combat all acts of economic sabotage in the oil and gas industry and shall put in every effort to rid the sector of miscreants. We assure the public that the Command remains committed to tightening intelligence, surveillance, and joint operations with sister agencies to fish out and bring perpetrators of economic sabotage to justice,” he added.
