Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have impounded 70,000 litres of stolen crude oil in the Eleme axis of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The operation was carried out by the Special Intelligence Squad, a unit established by NSCDC Commandant General, Dr. Ahmed Audi, to combat pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, and illegal petroleum dealings in the Niger Delta region.
According to a statement by NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, the squad acted on an intelligence tip-off and intercepted a long caravan truck with an in-built tank fully loaded with stolen crude oil. The truck was seized while in transit around the Eleme flyover in Elelewon, Port Harcourt.
The Special Squad Commandant, Sani Dandaura, revealed that operatives were swiftly deployed to the scene, where they impounded a red-head, navy-blue container truck (Registration Number: AGL574XY), which had been illegally loaded with crude siphoned from vandalized well-heads and destroyed pipelines.
Dandaura noted that the truck’s owners fled the scene upon sighting NSCDC operatives, abandoning the stolen crude. The exhibits have been confiscated, and an investigation is underway to track down the syndicate responsible for the theft.
“For the records, the exhibits recovered at the point of arrest are a red-head and navy-blue container truck with 10 tyres (Reg. No: AGL574XY), containing approximately 70,000 litres of stolen crude,” he stated.
The NSCDC has reiterated its commitment to tackling oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta. Commandant Dandaura assured that suspects linked to the crime will be brought to justice after a thorough investigation.
This operation comes amid intensified efforts by security agencies to curb illegal activities threatening Nigeria’s oil sector, a key driver of the nation’s economy.
