Posted by The Akwa Ibom State town of Uyo saw the seizure of seven trucks carrying 315 000 liters of illegally obtained petroleum products, according to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
It was also mentioned that 15 people were detained in relation to the incident.
At a press conference held on Tuesday at the NSCDC’s display yard in Uyo, Mr. Eluyemi Eluwade, the state commandant, revealed this. He said that on July 7, Anti-Vandal Squad agents acting on reliable information detained the suspects along the Calabar-Itu highway.
“Our recently reorganized Anti-Vandal Squad has detained 15 defendants for alleged criminal conspiracy and unlawful petroleum product trade. Seven vehicles totaling 315,000 liters of illegally obtained petroleum products have been detained, he said.
Eluwade noted that samples of the products have been obtained and will be taken for forensic analysis in a NNPC laboratory, after which the suspects will be charged in court, to ascertain whether the product is crude oil or High Pour Fuel Oil (HPFO), as claimed by the suspects.
He added that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects’ waybills displayed an expired permit to deal in petroleum products, and he issued a warning that the corps would not put up with any type of criminal activity, economic sabotage, or vandalism of vital government infrastructure in the state.