By SUMAYYAH ADEFAKA
Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in Ondo state, have arrested a pregnant woman, two minors, and eight other suspects, for their alleged involvement in illegal oil bunkering.
The state Commandant of the Corps, Hammed Abodunrin, parading the suspects in Akure, the State capital, said they were arrested at Waterway in Iju-Osun, Irele council area of the state with products suspected to be adulterated diesel.
According to him “the product was packed in drums, polythene bags and jerrycans loaded in four wooden boats.
“The suspects were caught in the act moving the petroleum products to an unknown destination.
“They were caught in the act. It is sad that some people have continued to sabotage government and we will not tolerate this’ he added.
“All these efforts have started yielding positive results. As of Sunday, 11 suspects were arrested with products suspected to be adulterated AGO.
“One of them is a heavily pregnant woman and two are minors, so we decided not to take them into custody because of their conditions.
“We have taken their statements, whenever we need them we will pick them up and we are going to conduct an investigation immediately and take them to court as soon as we conclude our investigation,” he said.
Abodunrin said that the suspects were unable to say where they got the consignment from and conveying it to.
He warned criminals to stay away from the state, as the corps was determined to track, arrest and prosecute them.
It’s a renewed fight against oil theft, against economic sabotage and a renewed fight to ensure that citizens can be sure of what their country can give them,” he said.
He said the suspects will be charged to court to serve as deterrent to others.
In an interview, one of the boat drivers said that he was arrested with 20 drums of kerosene.
“I didn’t know that it’s illegal and I thought kerosene was what people could buy and sell.
According to him “I am not the one that really owns the product, I was driving an engine boat for someone.
