Crude oil thieves now use SUVs to beat security operatives – Rivers NSCDC

A new method of stealing crude oil and transporting illegally refined petroleum products to neighbouring states has been uncovered in Rivers State, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State Command has said.

The State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr. Joachim Okafor, made this disclosure while addressing newsmen at the Command Head Office in Port Harcourt.

Okafor revealed that oil thieves are now using sport utility vehicles, or SUVs, to transport illegal petroleum products in order to evade the watchful eyes of the Corps personnel.

According to him, three SUVs carrying unquantified adulterated gasoline oil, also known as diesel, were intercepted by men from the Command’s Anti-Vandal Unit while they were on patrol in two border local government areas of the state.

“The NSCDC Rivers State Command’s anti-vandal unit was on patrol at Etche borders in Etche local government area of the Rivers. On sighting the patrol team, suspected illegal oil bunkers abandoned a Toyota Sequoia Jeep fully loaded with AGO, popularly called Kpofire Diesel, and escaped into a nearby bush.

“The anti-vandal team also experienced a similar incident at Umungu community in Omuma local government area of the state when some suspected oil thieves took to their heels as they saw the men of NSCDC on patrol. For fear of arrest, they quickly jumped out of the two Sequoia Jeeps they were using to convene the adulterated products and ran into a close-by forest,” he said.

He also said that the suspects, who are still at large, will soon be apprehended, adding that the seized vehicles and the petroleum product will be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The NSCDC boss assured that with the collaborative efforts of citizens, the Command will not relent in securing critical national assets, including pipelines, against vandals and crude oil thieves, who he noted are enemies of the country.

Okafor, therefore, advised oil thieves to quit sabotaging the nation’s economy and go into meaningful ventures, warning that the command will not spare anyone involved in such nefarious activities.