Two Arrested Over Adulterated Petroleum Product In Anambra

Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have arrested two suspects with a truck conveying 50,000 litres of substance suspected to be adulterated Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

The suspects were identified as Samuel Ifeanyichukwu Oduche, aged 39 from Ndiagu Amechi Awkunanaw Enugu State and one Njoku Emeka Agu aged 35 from Oduma, Aninri also from Enugu State.

In a statement on Monday, the Spokesman of the state Command, Edwin Okadigbo, said the duo was apprehended by men of the Anti-Vandalism Squad of the Corps on Sept. 24 in Awka.

“The anti-vandalism squad headed by Mr Chinweze Chinenye on Saturday Sept.24 2022 at about 9 pm intercepted the said truck with registration number Benue MKA 806 ZF loaded with suspected Illegally Refined Petroleum Product AGO (diesel) on Enugu/Onitsha express way Awka.

“They equally arrested one Samuel Ifeanyichukwu Oduche aged 39 of Ndiagu Amechi Awkunanaw Enugu State and one Njoku Emeka Agu aged 35 of Oduma, Aninri of Enugu State on board.

“The suspects volunteered confessional statements admitting their involvement in Illegal dealings on Petroleum Products while pleading for mercy."

Okadigbo added that preliminary investigation indicates that the suspects have been in the illicit business for sometime now.

The PRO said that the State Commandant Isdore Chikere had ordered the intelligence and investigation department to conduct discreet Investigations on the matter.

He also disclosed that at the end of the investigation, both suspects would be charged to court for prosecution.

Okadigbo quoted the State Commandant to have reiterated the commitment of the Corps to work assiduously towards protecting the nation’s oil and gas investments and other Critical Infrastructures.

According to him, Chikere maintained that the command under his watch would not relent on the Corps mandate of protecting government’s critical assets and infrastructure from vandalism.

“The constant vandalism of Pipelines, destruction of oil and gas facilities and illegal oil bunkering in the country is of great concern to the Commandant-General of NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi.

“This criminal act is worrisome because of its consequences on the economy, damage to public infrastructures, and loss of Government huge revenue in the oil sector.

“In view of the above, the CG has tasked us to reorganized and empower the Anti-Vandalism Squad to decisively tackle these menace which has started yielding the desired results”, Okadigbo quoted Chikere as saying.