Niger State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in North-Central Nigeria says it has bursted an illegal petroleum depot and arrested four suspects in Sabon Wuse in Tafa Local Government Area.
State Commandant, Joachin Okafor who made this known after the breakthrough against vandals added that the Command has declared war against all acts of vandalism of all critical national assets and infrastructure in the State.
The four suspects arrested are Abdullahi Musa, who is into sales of adulterated oil (black oil), Hussaini Suleiman, who works as an apprentice under Abubakar Saidu and owner of the dump site, Murtala Muhammed, who does business in petrol and gas and Muhammed Sanusi that trades in engine oil, petrol, and gas. They are between the ages of 25 and 45.
According to Commandant, the suspects were arrested based on available intelligence obtained by the Anti-Vandal Squad that immediately swung into action, and arrested them. He said, that on the site, they met the suspect’s production gadgets and materials used for mixing Low Pour Fuel Oil, LPFO.
From the confessional statements volunteered by the suspects, they confirmed that they operate an oil dump site where LPFO popularly known as Black Oil is being adulterated by mixing condemned oil, crude oil, and premium motor spirit to finally produce LPFO.
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The Commandant further hinted that on the day of their arrest, the four suspects were caught pouring about three drums of crude oil into a carved concrete container in the Kango Company in preparation for mixing.
Similarly, an apartment used for soap production was also sighted with many drums and chemicals. Upon interrogation, the suspects could not produce any license of operation hence they have been operating illegally making the public buy adulterated products.
He said a thorough investigation would be carried out to ascertain the level of the involvement of the suspects after which they would be appropriately charged to court.
Commandant Okafor therefore advised the public to engage in meaningful businesses rather than risk being caught engaging in any act of economic sabotage warning that, whoever is apprehended would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
