NSCDC apprehends suspected oil thieves in Akwa Ibom

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Akwa Ibom Command, has apprehended two alleged smugglers and seized 3,000 litres of supposed contaminated Automotive Gas Oil.

NSCDC disclosed that the diesel was hidden in a truck loaded with yoghurt drink.

The State Commandant of the Agency, Mr Samuel Fadeyi, on Wednesday, declared this while briefing journalists at the command exhibitions yard in Uyo.

Fadeyi stated that the suspects, who were coming from Ahoada, Rivers State were arrested on Friday, April 23, by a patrol team on surveillance in Itu Local Government Area.

He said, “Like we have always done to update you on activities and indeed activities of some criminal elements among us, essentially to inform the public, and let them know the ills that some of these activities bring on us.

“Now look at this, this vehicle was intercepted by our men around Itu, and ordinarily it is conveying yoghurt, but it is used to conceal AGO, taken from an illegal refinery at Ahoada in Rivers State.

“They have succeeded to a point, deceived security operatives on the way until they got to Itu LGA, kudos to our men; they were able to get through their deceit and were able to discover that the yogurts were used to conceal illegal Diesel.

“Apart from the fact that it is illegal, which is dangerous, look at the yoghurt that is for consumption, it is already contaminated and will be exposed to the public for consumption.

“Two suspects were arrested on Friday concerning this and as you have seen, you have seen the AGO, you have seen how they concealed it.”