No fewer than 19 persons, suspected to be oil thieves, have been arrested in Rivers by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in a raid operation.

The all-male suspects were arrested alongside three tanker trucks; a large wooden boat and 400 drums all laden with millions of litres of petroleum products, suspected to be illegally-refined diesel.

The NSCDC State Commandant, Abu Tambuwal, gave the disclosure while parading the suspects and items before journalistsin Port Harcourt on Monday.

“We launched this operation to put to an end the destruction of aquatic lives and agro-produce caused by oil spillages orchestrated by acts of illegal bunkering.

“Operatives on Feb. 4 intercepted nine oil thieves at an illegal oil dump site located around Former Church Compound in Borokiri, New Road, off Naval Express Road, Port Harcourt.

“A green Nissan Primera car laden with suspected illegally-refined diesel was recovered from the suspects during the raid.

“Similarly, on the same day, operatives arrested six suspected oil thieves and impounded over 200 drums filled with diesel at the same location,” he said. 

Tambuwal further said that operatives, acting on intelligence, later the same day arrested another four suspects and seized from them a Yahama boat engine used to transport stolen petroleum products.

According to him, several drums containing adulterated diesel found on their site in Borokiri town were destroyed by NSCDC operatives.

“In another operation, personnel also impounded a white Ford Bus with registration number: Abia AR 183 UMA, loaded with an unspecified number of adulterated diesel concealed in sacks.

“On Feb. 5, our marine patrol team seized a Yahama 40 horsepower outboard engine alongside a wooden boat laden with unknown quantities of suspected illegally refined diesel.

“Later, our team proceeded to George Ama community in Okirika and impounded a blue Mack Truck with registration number Borno DAM 97 XA, loaded with an unspecified quantity of adulterated diesel,” he added.

Mr Tambuwal said that operatives later raided the Obodi community at East-West Road stretch of Ahoada-West and seized a DAF trailer truck transporting stolen diesel concealed in a fabricated compartment underneath the truck.

According to him, the arrests and seizures were made in support of the Rivers Government’s campaign against illegal refineries partly responsible for the soot pollution in the state.

The commandant said that NSCDC investigators are currently grilling the 19 suspects and assured that they would be charged to court if found culpable of the crime.

(NAN)