A total of 187 suspected oil thieves were arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) Rivers Command in 2020.
Mr Mukhtar Lawal, the state commandant of the Corps disclosed this while addressing the media at the Command Headquarters in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Mr Lawal said that the command in a bid to checkmate oil thieves in the state, especially crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, developed internal mechanism that enabled it to create local intelligence around pipelines where the products pass to complement the 24 hours patrol around the various locations.
He said the strategy yielded positive results as the command arrested no fewer than 187 suspected oil thieves, 195 trucks/vehicles used for vandalism in year 2020.
Lawal said the command also secured 98 convictions, while 195 vehicles were forfeited after they were seized at the scene of activities of vandals.
“The command in the year under review recorded 98 convictions in cases relating to illegal dealings in petroleum products, vandalism of petroleum pipelines, telecommunications facilities, PHCN facilities among others.
“The command has secured the forfeiture of a tug boat, 10 trucks/vehicles for the Federal Government while 74 cases are currently going on with 48 suspects facing trials in Federal High Court, Port Harcourt.
“On 15th December, 2020 a mack container truck with registration number Lagos XM 918 BDC loaded with about 50 drums of AGO was arrested.
“On December 11, 2020 two suspected oil thieves in possession of truck registration number XB 840 SAP were arrested within Ahoada West LGA.
“On December 10, 2020 at about 12:30 hours a short truck with registration number AJA 110 XR Lagos loaded with about 10,000 litres of suspected adulterated AGO was apprehended along Iwofe Road in Obio-Akpor LGA.
“On 6th December 2020, four suspects with two 40 fleets suspected vandalized petroleum oil pipes loaded in an open truck and self loader truck with registration number ABC 767 XB Abuja and BGM 532 XA Rivers was arrested at Eteo Community in Eleme LGA”.he said.
