The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Imo State has arrested five illegal oil bunkering suspects and recovered stolen crude oil.
The Commandant of NSCDC in Imo, Matthew Ovye, shared this information during a press briefing in Owerri on Tuesday.
Ovye revealed that the arrests were made during separate operations conducted by the Special Intelligence Squad of the corps’ Commandant-General, Ahmed Audi.
The first operation, conducted on December 8, resulted in the arrest of four suspects along with the seizure of four vehicles, with approximately 30,000 litres of stolen Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) recovered.
In a subsequent operation carried out by the anti-vandal team of NSCDC in Imo on Monday, December 11, another suspect and a vehicle were apprehended.
The suspects were reportedly captured in the Abacheke and Agwa communities of the Ohaji-Egbema and Oguta Local Government Areas of the state.
Ovye highlighted the evolving tactics of oil bunkers, stating, “In the past, they used to move with trucks but now they use salon cars and smaller vehicles, meaning that we have really decimated them and they are now in hiding.”
He emphasized the commitment of NSCDC to curbing the activities of vandals in the state, expressing confidence that collaborative efforts with sister agencies would help eliminate such criminal activities.
While addressing the media, Ovye assured the public that the NSCDC would not relent in its efforts and promised that the suspects would face prosecution after thorough investigations.
One of the suspects, Mr. Kingsley Ngwoli, a resident of Ohaji-Egbema LGA, claimed innocence, stating that he unknowingly purchased the petroleum product along Abacheke Road, Oguta, without realizing it was a result of illegal bunkering.
Ovye called on residents to report any suspected criminal activities to security agencies to enhance the protection of lives and property in Imo State.
