Men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, in Abia state have arrested six suspected oil thieves and recovered 42 drums of crude oil.
The suspects are identified as Tochukwu Onwuzuruigbo (48 years) from Enugu State, Ezechi Emeka (41 years from Enugu State), Maduakolam Uzoije (25 years) from Uratta, Abia State and David Lazarus (24 years) from Anambra State.
Others were Chukwuebuka Onwuzuruigbo (18 years) from Enugu State and Abuchi Eze (35 years) from Enugu State.
The new Commandant of NSCDC, in Abia State, Paul Igwebuike while parading the suspects said they were apprehended at Gas Line by Iheoma Uratta in Aba.
Igwebuike who described dealers in illegal petroleum business as saboteurs to the nation’s economy said their arrest was made possible through a tip-off from informants.
He warned that criminal activities of any nature would not be allowed in Abia as he has come to sanitize the State of criminals, in line with the mandate of the Commandant-General of NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi.
He praised his men for their gallantry in arresting the suspects and appealed to the Abia public to volunteer more information to the NSCDC about any suspected criminal activities by hoodlums around their area.
The Abia NSCDC Commandant stressed that the six arrested suspects would be charged to court after thorough investigation.
According to the Command, exhibits recovered from the suspects included 42 drums of oil, suspected to be crude oil and a truck with registration number SSM 839XA, which was meant for the loading of the illegal oil.
