The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has arrested 19 suspects and recovered 81 vehicles at an illegal oil storage site in Ikeja.

A statement signed by Oluwaseun Abolurin, spokesperson for the command on Tuesday, said the Special Intelligence Squad arrested the suspects where they were refining diesel.

“The squad arrested 19 suspects (18 male and one female), 81 trucks, nine buses, 12 pumping machines, 25 surface tanks, 140 drums containing illegally refined AGO, 115 generators and N4 million cash found in a car suspected to belong to the syndicate,” he said.

He identified the area as Etal Avenue, off Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, adding that the suspects were arrested at about 12:18 p.m. on Monday.

“The CG Special Intelligence Squad relied basically on credible intelligence, coupled with the re-invigorated vigour of the squad, in line with the CG’s charge to stamp out the oil thieves in the Oregun area of Lagos State and other states of the nation,” it said.

The statement said that the state commandant, Eweka Okoro, had directed the anti-vandal unit of the command to take complete charge of the illegal oil site.

“The commandant seized this opportunity to warn oil thieves in the state to desist from the inimical act capable of sabotaging the nation’s economy,” the statement read.

(NAN)