NSCDC arrests 5 suspected oil thieves in Bayelsa

NSCDC arrests 5 suspected oil thieves in Bayelsa

The Bayelsa Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Monday said it had arrested five suspected oil thieves, believed to be part of a syndicate.

Mr Desmond Agu, the Bayelsa Commandant of the corps, paraded the suspects at the State Command Headquarters in Yenagoa.

He said they were arrested in connection with vandalism of a pipeline belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

According to Agu, the suspects sneaked into the creeks of Akimoni community at Taylor Creek, Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state, to vandalise the pipeline.

“After they attacked the pipeline, the suspects fled the community.

“But because of our partnership with communities who were not happy with the environmental pollution caused by pipeline vandalism, we were able to apprehend them,” he said.

Agu said that the suspects would be prosecuted and warned youths in the state against attacking critical assets, especially oil installations.

The anti-vandal unit of the corps also intercepted a Toyota Sequa Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) used by vandals to transport illegally-refined petroleum products.

The commandant said that the vigilance of his men led to the interception of the SUV, which was loaded with petroleum products.

He said that preliminary investigations had revealed that the SUV was carrying over 10 drums of illegally-refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO).

“There was no way one would have ordinarily known that a vehicle of that nature with tinted glass would be used to transport stolen products.

“They used empty bags of rice with nylon bags to conceal the product to deceive us; the bags also enabled them move large quantities of stolen product.

“But through continuous training, we have learnt the tricks of criminals, especially vandals of oil installations,’’ the commandant said.

He said that the suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled into the bush when officials of the corps insisted on searching it.

Agu said that the vehicle was, however, towed to the command headquarters for further investigation that could lead to the arrest its owners.

He warned youths in the state to desist from vandalising pipelines to steal petroleum products, stressing that there was no hiding place for such youths.

“Whether the products are transported in SUVs or nylon bags, we will intercept them, arrest the culprits, and prosecute them.“

Agu commended communities in the state for their cooperation and called for more partnership with them through information sharing, to clamp down on vandals.