The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has successfully intercepted stolen crude oil in the Oguta local government area of Imo State, News About Nigeria reports.
The development was announced through a statement by the NSCDC Spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, on Monday.
Afolabi revealed that the confiscated products, believed to be pilfered from a vandalised wellhead belonging to a multinational oil company in Nkwuogologo Area, Ogiata LGA, Imo State, were promptly burned by NSCDC operatives.
The operation also involved the dismantling of makeshift storage facilities and warehouses concealed within the forest.
The NSCDC’s special intelligence squad, renowned for its vigilance, detected and intercepted the large quantity of adulterated crude oil on November 24, 2023.
The vandals, upon encountering the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad, fled the scene, abandoning the stolen products.
He said, “I want to inform you again that on the 24th of November, 2023, the vigilant and eagle-eyed special intelligence squad of the NSCDC was able to detect and intercept another large quantity of vandalized and stolen adulterated crude oil believed to have been siphoned from a vandalized wellhead belonging to a multinational oil company and located at Nkwuogologo Area in Ogiata LGA, Imo State.
He further conveyed that NSCDC’s Commandant General, Ahmed Audi, has been briefed on the situation and has ordered a rigorous manhunt for the fleeing vandals.
Emphasising the commitment of the NSCDC to combating oil theft, especially in the Niger Delta region, Afolabi quoted the Commandant General as saying, “The Corps is battle-ready to achieve huge success.”
The NSCDC has actively made Imo State and its surroundings inhospitable for oil thieves and vandals over the past two months.
