The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Akwa Ibom State command, has received praise from petroleum marketers operating under the auspices of the Natural Oil and Gas Supplier Association of Nigeria for the actions that resulted in the apprehension of suspected oil thieves within the state.
Six suspected oil thieves were apprehended by NSCDC agents in the command after they pretended to be members of an agency’s Joint Security Tax Force in order to carry out their illicit activity.
After that, the workers intercepted 45,000 liters of fuel, also known as automatic gas oil.
The criminals were apprehended by Anti-Vandal squad members on Monday along the Calabar-Itu Highway following a tip.
The association’s state chairman, Sam Osung, praised the agents for their bravery in a statement released in Uyo on Thursday. He also promised to work with the agency to put an end to the threat posed by oil thieves in the state.
“We applaud the uncompromising disposition of the NSCDC and their gallant operations that led to the apprehension of the perpetrators,” the statement said, following the news of the arrest and detention of a few members of the syndicate infiltrating Akwa Ibom State with adulterated petroleum products and other illicit vices in the petroleum industry.”
The extent to which the alleged network may pose as the Security Joint Taskforce in order to deceive and enable the successful smuggling of petroleum products obtained illegally to A’Ibom state is astounding.
As important participants in the downstream supply and distribution chain, we applaud the NSCDC’s efforts and beg other pertinent organizations to stop this threat to the state by catching those engaging in these widespread behaviors.
“We will always work in tandem with the NSCDC and other pertinent organizations to put an end to this threat, since their inhumane actions have compromised our credibility as authorized petroleum dealers.”
The public is eager to see the matter through to its conclusion and, should the offenders be proven guilty, to pursue legal action against them.
“We firmly believe that Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria will be free of all unhealthy practices and illegal vices thanks to the deliberate and skillful efforts of the NSCDC.”
