Judex Okoro, Calabar
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Cross River has arrested one person and seized a truck load of suspected adulterated diesel containing 33,000 litres capacity.
The State Commandant of the Corps, Mr Danjuma Elisha, who disclosed this while brieding journalists in Calabar at the weekend, said the truck was arrested at the early hours of Tuesday, Oct. 29, at the ‘Technical Junction’ in Calabar.
Elisha said: “The suspect and the product containing 33, 000 litres of diesel were arrested because of no valid papers to operate in the oil sector. and at the same time, the product itself is suspected to be adulterated Automative Gas Oil.
“This kind of act is against our laws and regulations; this is an economic sabotage. We expect people to do legitimate business, but this very business is illegal and that is why we arrested the truck,” he said.
He said that the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) was carrying out a forensic analysis of the product.
According to him, after the analysis, the suspect will be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others who may want to venture into such illegality.
The Commandant, who assumed the leadership of the command a week ago, said he would work towards stamping out illegal oil deals and ensure the protection of critical assets.
He, therefore, solicited the support of all residents in the state to work in maintaining national security.
Speaking, the arrested driver of the truck, Mansur Mohammed, said he was transporting the product to Yola in Adamawa.
Mohammed admitted that he bought the product from road side dealers without valid papers, adding that he works according to the instruction of his boss.