The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kwara Command, says it has arrested five suspects for allegedly impersonating the corps and extorting money from unsuspected people in Ilorin.
The suspects were Saheed Adedayo, 37; Muritala Oloruntoyin, 40; Emmanuel Ferife, 45; Abiodun Oluseun, 44 and Isaac Aluko, 43.
In a statement by Mr Babawale Afolabi, spokesman of the Command, on Wednesday in Ilorin, said the age bracket of the suspects are within 37 and 45 years.
Afolabi said that the suspects allegedly moved round the filling stations in Ilorin metropolis, collecting money from the station managers, claiming to be Civil Defence officers on national assignment from Abuja.
He said investigations revealed that the suspects were running a syndicate with other members, also operating across the 16 local government areas of the state.
“On March 8, our Anti-Vandal Unit led by ACC Yusuf Olatunji got an intelligence report that some group of men, who put on the uniform of Civil Defence have been going round the filling stations in Ilorin.
“The men claimed to be members of Special Task Force, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) on assignment from Abuja, asking for the managers of petrol stations and collecting money from them.
“The filling stations believed that the suspects were officers of the NSCDC and had to give them some certain amount of money as demanded,” Afolabi said.
The spokesman said that the suspects claimed to be members of the NGO and had been going round, extorting money from unsuspected petrol sellers.
He said that the suspects were caught at Demo Filling Station, Amilegbe Area, Ilorin, while trying to extort them.
Afolabi said that the office of the Anti-Vandal Unit was contacted by the management of Demo Filling Station, Amilegbe and the Unit’s Patrol team swung into action, which led to the suspects’ arrest.
During interrogation, he said that the suspects admitted to be doing illegal duties.
According to him, but they maintained to be members of the association and were going about filling stations to gather intelligence reports.
“The State Commandant of the corps, Makinde Ayinla, appealed to the filling stations and the people of Kwara at large, to be wary of unscrupulous elements, using the period of fuel scarcity to perpetuate their criminal activities.
“Ayinla advised the people of the state to carry out all necessary steps before dealing with any group or individuals, claiming to be security operatives,” Afolabi said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NGO was established in 2010 to eradicate the use of illegal arms and unauthorised smuggling.
He said that the suspects were asked to move round the filling stations and investigate those that sell above N165.
According to him, this is to report to the appropriate authorities.(NAN)
