The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers state command, says it has uncovered a new method adopted by oil thieves to convey their stolen crude oil from the creeks to other parts of the state.

Joachim Okafor, NSCDC Rivers commandant, on Friday, said the oil thieves had resorted to using rugged sports utility vehicles (SUVs) to evacuate stolen petroleum products.

“The NSCDC Rivers State command’s anti-vandal unit was on patrol at Etche borders in Etche local government area of the Rivers on sighting the patrol team, suspected illegal oil bunkers abandoned a Toyota Sequoia Jeep fully loaded with AGO popularly called Kpofire Diesel, and escaped into a nearby bush,” he said.

“The anti-vandal team also experienced a similar incident at Umungu community in Omuma local government area of the state when some suspected oil thieves took to their heels as they saw the men of NSCDC on patrol, for fear of arrest, they quickly jumped out of the two Sequoia Jeeps they were using to convene the adulterated products and ran into a close-by forest.”

 

Okafor said the suspects on the run would soon be apprehended, adding that the confiscated vehicles and petroleum products would be forfeited to the federal government.

The commandant assured that with the collaborative efforts of citizens, the command would not relent in securing critical national assets such as pipelines from vandals and crude oil thieves who are “enemies of the country”.

Okafor, therefore, warned oil thieves to engage in meaningful ventures, emphasising that the command would not spare anyone arrested.