The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSDC) Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad has arrested three suspects for vandalism of oil pipeline, oil theft and illegal dealings in petroleum products at Umuodo, Umuajuloke Community in Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The CG’s SIS Commander, DC Apollo Dandaura during a briefing on Monday, said the the arrest was made possible through sustained Intelligence that an illegal oil refinery was cited at the crime scene, which made his command to sweep the area, leading to discovery of a large quantity of illegally refined petroleum products suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
He said: “Based on credible Intelligence we swung into action and arrested three suspects at the crime scene with large quantities of illegally refined AGO already stored inside metallic drums while others were inside cellophane bags.”
He disclosed that the names of the arrested suspects are Happiness Nwankwo (F) 45years who claimed to be an indigene of Omuma in Rivers State, Nnoma Nwankwo (F) 30years also from Rivers State and Favour Amadi (F) from Omuma in the same Rivers State.
The commander said: “Some exhibits recovered at the point of arrest are numerous drum ovens containing stolen and syphoned crude oil undergoing processing, Industrial hoses used to tap into well-heads to syphon crude oil, large quantities of stolen crude oil stored inside cellophane bags and kegs, Many metal and plastic buckets, Wheelbarrows, Shovels and Galvanized metal pipes”.
The CG SIS Commander hinted that Investigations have commenced to unravel the involvement of the three suspects and who their sponsors are.
He said that at the expiration of a thorough investigation, whoever is found culpable would have their time in court.
