By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
Efforts at curbing illegal fuel dealing across the country has recorded a huge success in Lagos, as operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) reportedly burst an illegal fuel storage in Lagos.
At least, 19 suspects, including a female, 81 trucks, nine buses, 12 pumping machines, 25 surface tanks, 140 drums containing illegally refined (AGO), popularly know as diesel and 15 generators were said to have been seized from the site.
In addition, a total sum of N4,000,000 million cash was also reportedly found in a car suspected to belong to the syndicate.
Our correspondent gathered that the operation was carried out by operatives of the Commandant’s General Special Intelligence who stormed the site located at Etal Avenue, off Kudirat, Abiola way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos State, at about 12:18hrs, on Monday, 30th May, 2022.
The public relations officer of the Lagos Command of the Agency Abolurun Oluwaseun, an Assistant Superintendent of Corps (ASCI), while confirming the report in a release stated that it was discovered that petroleum products were being illegally stored and refined at the site.
He added that 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 oil thieves in the Oregun area of Lagos state and other states of the nation.
” The CG Special Intelligence Squad, in realisation of their responsibilities, stormed Etal Avenue, off Kudirat, Abiola way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos State, at about 12:18hrs, yesterday, Monday, 30th May, 2022, where it bursted an illegal oil storage site, where Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel, is being refined, arrested a syndicate of suspected oil vandals, trucks, peddlers, buses, cash and cars, with machines and other implements used for perpetrating the heinous economic sabotage.
” 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.
” The CG Special Intelligence Squad, upon bursting the illegal oil site, where it was discovered that petroleum products were being illegally stored and refined, as well discovered and arrested the following persons and items:
” (i) Nineteen (19) suspects; Eighteen (18) male and one (1) female,
(ii) Eighty one (81) trucks,
(iii) Nine (9) bus,
(iv) Twelve (12) pumping machines,
(v) Twenty five (25) surface tanks,
(vi) One hundred and forty (140) drums containing illegally refined (AGO)
(vii) Fifteen (15) generators and
(viii) four million (4,000,000) naira in cash found in a car suspected to belong to the syndicate.
” The Squad was immediately re – enforced by the Anti – vandal team of the Lagos State Command, on the swift orders of the Commandant, NSCDC, Lagos State Command, Commandant Eweka Edenabu Douglas Okoro, msc, acma, cna, who clinically directed that the arrested suspects be brought for adequate interogation and investigation, in the Intelligence and Investigation (INT) Department , at the State Command Headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja, before further legal action will be taken on the matter.
” The Anti – vandal unit of the Command has also been directed by the Commandant to take full charge of the illegal oil site immediately, so as to forestall any further untoward activity by these economic saboteurs of our collective commonwealth.
” Finally, Commandant Eweka Okoro avows his unflinching commitment to the vision and mission of the Commandant General, CG Ahmed Abubakar Audi, PhD, mni, in relations to the eradication of illegal dealings in petroleum products and all forms of economic sabotage in the state and nation.
” The Commandant also said, “he seized this opportunity to warn oil thieves in the state to desist from the inimical act capable of sabotaging the nation’s economy with the disturbing untoward experiences it could bring upon the ordinary citizens of our nation.”
He however, warned that failure of the unrepentant vandals and oil thieves to desist from the act will be meted with stiffer actions from the Command, which may eventually lead the culprits to face the full wrath of the law”, the release reads in part.
