The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), on Wednesday, paraded five suspected oil thieves arrested in Rivers State on Wednesday.
The security agency said it recovered nine vehicles carrying 15,000 litres of illegally refined automated gas oil, or diesel, from the accused.
Basil Igwebueze, the NSCDC Commandant for Rivers State, revealed this when he paraded the suspects and exhibits before reporters in Port Harcourt.
Igwebueze stated that the suspects, all guys aged 19 to 25, were apprehended with crude oil tapping equipment.
He stated: “The suspects, Abdulrasheed Nuhu (m), 25; Hussaini Ciroma (m), 24; Shamsudeen Umar (m), 23; Al-Amina Ismaila (m), 19, and Ibrahim Usman (m), 23, were arrested at Alesa-Eleme Okrika Road, Eleme Local Government, for laying galvanised pipes close to the NNPC/PPMC line/right of way.
“The suspects were caught with some galvanised pipes to be connected and used for tapping crude oil.
“The preliminary investigation report, however, revealed that the suspects carried out the act to syphon petroleum products from the pipeline in the late hours of the night.”
Igwebueze urged everyone, particularly youngsters involved in illegal activities, to turn a fresh page, stressing that the NSCDC would not give up in its fight against oil theft.
