The Delta state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has apprehended three suspected oil thieves with about 16,000 litres of products presumed to be refined diesel.
Parading the suspects in Warri on Tuesday, Jimoh Suleiman, the state commandant, said the product was loaded into a large wooden boat, popularly called the Cotonou boat.
The suspects were apprehended on Sunday, in Madagho community, Warri south-west LGA of the state.
Suleiman said NSCDC operatives had been on the trail of the suspects before they were eventually arrested.
“I am here to parade the three suspects we arrested on April 21, 2024, at about 0236 hours at Shell Escravos area around Madagho village settlement,” he said.
“My boys have been out for more than three days on the trail of the suspects before we were fortunate to arrest them on Sunday.
“They were apprehended alongside nine GP tanks with four of the tanks loaded with the product, two pumping machines, a generator and a counting machine.
“For you to arrest suspects with pumping and counting machines with a lot of products (refined), not black, for us to say it is locally refined.
“It is obvious that this product was vandalised somewhere; the suspects tampered with the pipelines.”
Suleiman added that the feat is an indication that the corps is committed to battling oil thieves sabotaging the nation’s economy.
He also warned criminals to flee the Niger Delta creeks because the NSCDC will be out for them.
“We are not relenting and we will not relent; we are not sleeping and we will not sleep,” he said.
“Others who are having the plan to sabotage the economy should move away from Delta because we are out for them.”