One suspect has been detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and two vehicles carrying 1,500 litres of suspected contaminated automotive gas oil have been seized in Akwa Ibom.
At a Wednesday press conference in Uyo, Suleiman Marafa, the state's corps commandant, stated.
Marafa claimed that on August 19, while transporting the commodity in from Ogoni rivers in Rivers, the suspect, 36, was apprehended by NSCDC agents in Akwa Ibom along the Ikot Abasi-Port Harcourt expressway.
The second suspect, he said, ran after seeing corps members and abandoned his car. He added that the two vehicles that had been confiscated had the licence plates AKD 940 EG and ART 994 AA.
The commandant said that the suspects concealed the product in cellophane bags tucked inside the booths of their vehicle to beat security checks.
Marafa assured that the NSCDC would continue to pursue and apprehend criminals sabotaging the nation’s economy.
“The Corps under my watch will not relent in hunting oil thieves and vandals who are sabotaging the Nigerian economy.
“We have increased surveillance and patrol in identified flashpoints. I want to assure you that it’s not going to be business as usual for criminals and enemies of the state.
“The suspect will be arraigned in court soonest, where he will answer for his crime. I want to appeal to our youths to desist from crime,” Marafa said.