Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ondo State Command, says it has arrested three suspected oil thieves and impounded about 4,000 litres of adulterated diesel.
State Commandant of NSCDC, Mr Oluyemi Ibiloye, disclosed this on Friday while parading the suspects at news conference in Akure.
Ibiloye, who said the suspects were arrested in the riverine area of the state, added that they were arrested after 24 hours of his resumption as the 20th commandant of the command.
The commandant said that he would not tolerate any act that constituted illegal dealings in petroleum products and other allied offences.
He said that when he resumed office, he gave the marching order to the command’s anti-vandal squad that all criminals and criminalities along waterways in the state must be apprehended.
“Upon the matching order and based on credible intelligence, the marine patrol team of the anti-vandal unit was able to intercept and arrest the three suspects.
“They were arrested at about 1:42 a.m. on Jan. 10 at Awoye, Ilaje Local Government Area.
“The three suspects are Omoetan Iseoluwa Innocent aged 30 years, residing at No 22 Ayerin compound, Okoriwo, Ese Odo.
“Ogbodo Adeshina aged 19 years; and Ajana Good Kehinde aged 21, living at Haazana compound, Arogbo.
“The suspects arrested were in conveyance of a 40 horse power engine and a wooden boat containing about 4,000 liters of illegally refined petroleum products, suspected to be adulterated diesel, concealed in cellophane bags,’’ he said.
Ibiloye, who also said that the suspects would be charged to court after investigations were concluded, vowed that “any form of criminals and criminality would be met with very stiff penalty”.
“I believe that with the cooperation of the state government and collaboration of security agencies, we will ensure that we rid our waterways of any form of criminality.
“This is because we cannot continue to plunder our nation’s wealth just because of personal gain,’’ he said.
The commandant called on those who intended to perpetrate such nefarious acts to either desist or face the full wrath of the law.
Speaking with newsmen, Omoetan Iseoluwa, one of the suspects, who claimed to be the driver of the boat, pleaded for forgiveness.
“Actually, I am into fixing boats before one woman called me to help her drive a boat to carry some load and promised to pay me N100,000.
“Upon hearing this, I called two of my friends to follow me so that they can see little money and I don’t know it was an illegal thing I wanted to involve myself.
“I’m begging government to forgive me, I will not involve myself in any illegal thing again in my life,” he said. (NAN). READ ALSO:
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