At least five persons have been arrested by operatives of the Bauchi State Command of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at Kainji Quarters, Gwallagar-Mayaka village in Bauchi Local Government Area of the state over alleged oil bunkering.
The incident was confirmed by the command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Ibrahim Abubakar Gabdo, who stated that the suspects are in connection with the recent report of oil bunkering in the area.
While addressing journalists in Bauchi, the PRO said the suspects were apprehended at the scene of the illegal bunkering.
They were allegedly caught with the jerry cans they used for their nefarious activity, the spokesman said, while adding that the jerry cans were filled already with stolen oil.
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He then said the suspects would be made to face the full wrath of the law as the Corps would arraign them before a court of law after completing its investigations.
Reacting, the ward head of Kainji Quarters, Malam Salihu Ibrahim, has expressed worries over the inherent danger associated with oil bunkering and called on the relevant authorities to urgently repair damaged pipelines with a view to averting potential danger to lives and properties of the people of the community.
Ibrahim told journalists that following recent damage to the pipeline carrying oil through the community, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Plc repaired the damage only for oil thieves to damage it again in less than a week to carry on with their illegal activities.
The ward head said he had since reported the latest development to the authorities and expressed the hope that repair would be effected quickly.