By Damilare Adeleye
The Special Intelligence Squad of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant General has arrested three female suspects involved in oil pipeline vandalism, oil theft, and illegal petroleum product dealings in Umuodo, Umuajuloke Community, Omuma Local Government Area, Rivers State.
In a statement released on Sunday by the CG’s SIS Commander, DC Apollo Dandaura stated that the arrest was made possible through sustained intelligence indicating that an illegal oil refinery was located at the crime scene
Dandaura explained that upon swinging into action, a large quantity of illegally refined petroleum products suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) was discovered.
The statement read, “Based on credible Intelligence we swung into action and arrested 3 suspects at the crime scene with large quantities of illegally refined AGO already stored inside metallic drums while others were inside cellophane bags.
“The names of the arrested suspects are: Happiness Nwankwo (F) 45 years who claimed to be an indigene of Omuma in Rivers State, Nnoma Nwankwo (F) 30 years also from Rivers State and Favour Amadi (F) from Omuma in the same Rivers State.
“Some exhibits recovered at the point of arrest are: numerous drum ovens containing stolen and syphoned crude oil undergoing processing, Industrial hoses used to tap into well-heads to syphon crude oil, large quantities of stolen crude oil stored inside cellophane bags and kegs, Many metal and plastic buckets, Wheel barrows, Shovels and Galvanized metal pipes.”
Dandaura said that an investigation has commenced to unravel the involvement of the three female suspects and who their sponsors are.
He added that whoever is found guilty after the conclusion of the investigation would be prosecuted.