NSCDC Intercepts 4,200 Litres of Petrol During Patrol in Ipokia Ogun State
Personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) intercepted 4,200 liters of petrol during patrol in Akere Waterways in the Iipokia local government area of Ogun State.
The petrol loaded in 42 sacks and eight kegs in a boat was being smuggled across the border into the Benin Republic on February 8.
The state corps commandant, Idowu Ojelabi, announced this while parading seized petrol at the command headquarters in Abeokuta. He said the command acting on intelligence laid an ambush for two days in the creeks, waiting for the smugglers.
According to him, the smugglers, upon seeing the NSCDC operatives, jumped into the waters to escape arrest.
He said, “On February 8, 2024, at about 0945hrs, the Marine unit of the NSCDC, Ogun Command attached to the Akere creek in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State intercepted a boat convening a series of sacks suspected to be PMS numbering up to 42 sacks and eight kegs fully loaded with the product at the Akere waterways within Nigeria and Benin border.
“The products were illegally transported towards the Benin Republic. On sighting the NSCDC marine officers’ patrol team, the captain of the boat conveying the PMS dived into the river and swam across.”
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The NSCDC boss further said the corps would not relent until the suspects were arrested and brought to justice because their activities had adversely affected the nation’s economy.
“From what you have seen so far, each of the sacks is believed to contain about 100 liters of PMS and if that is quantified, it is about 4,200 liters.
This runs to some millions of naira in market value. If this goes back to the purse of the Federal Government, the nation will be economically balanced and stable for all of us to benefit even from the dividends.
“These seized items, if recycled back in Nigeria, the citizens will have enough PMS to buy but when they are smuggled abroad, it will pose a negative impact on the nation’s economy.
“We will not sleep until the state is free from all forms of criminality either armed robbery, kidnapping, vandalization of national assets, bunkering, and oil theft.
Wherever they are, we have a robust relationship with the public through our civil-military relationship and we are sure to get the right information from the public. Very soon, the suspects behind these seized items will be apprehended,” Ojelabi said.
