Two trucks loaded with 75,000 litres of suspected adulterated Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) has been impounded by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Akwa Ibom State.
This was made known on Tuesday by the NSCDC Commandant in the state, Mr Eluyemi Eluwade, who said four suspects were also arrested in connection with the crime.
According to the NSCDC Commandant, men of the command arrested the suspects while trying to blend two products to form AGO at a filling station along Abak Road in Uyo Metropolis on Monday.
In addition, Eluwade noted that they will do everything in their power to stop vandals in the state as their activities could undermine efforts to grow the economy.
“With the support of our Commandant General, Dr Audi Abubakar, our team of anti-vandals went out on Sept. 25, and arrested four suspects, impounded two trucks in a station where they were trying to blend two products to form AGO.
“The first truck contained 45,000 litres of suspected Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), and the second truck contained 30,000 litres of suspected Marine Diesel Oil, called MDO.
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“Some other items recovered at the site included 13 jerry cans of 25-litre dissolver chemicals, four plastic hoses, two pumping machines, one generator, one electric pump and two flow metres.
“All these things are now in our custody and the investigation is ongoing. These sets of people are trying to put two products together to form AGO, according to our preliminary findings,” Eluwade said.
Meanwhile, an Upper Area Court, Kubwa, Abuja has ordered that Mr Abba Mohammed be remanded in a correction centre for alleged theft.
The Judge, Muhammad Wakili gave the order after Mohammed pleaded guilty to the said offence.
Wakili, however, adjourned the matter until Oct. 9 for sentencing.
The police had charged the defendant with criminal trespass and theft.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, SP Babajide Olanipekun told the court that Mohammed entered a shop at Gado Nasko Road, Kubwa, Abuja on the guise of buying a gas cylinder on Sept.11.
Olanipekun said that Mohammed allegedly stole N23,500 cash from one Uchenna Madugba, but while attempting to escape, he was arrested.
The prosecution counsel said the money was recovered from Mohammed, adding that the offence contravened sections 348 and 288 of the Penal Code.
Section 288 states that whoever commits theft shall be punished with imprisonment for seven years or a fine or both.