The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC), Lagos Command ,on Tuesday, said it had intercepted 19 sacks containing products suspected to be Premium Motor Spirit ( PMS ) popularly called petrol at Gbrovimen, opposite Afo Badagry Waterways, in the Badagry area of Lagos State.
This is contained in a statement signed and released by the command’s spokesman, Mr Oluwaseun Abolurin to newsmen in Lagos.
Abolurin said in the statement that the NSCDC’s Marine and Anti-vandal Team from Badagry division who were on routine surveillance and patrol on Sunday intercepted the suspects.
The statement also stated that the Divisional Officer of the NSCDC in Badagary, Mr Ayodeji Akinyemi , a Chief Superintendent of Corps ( CSC) , led the operation against the suspected vandals.
Abolurin added in the statement that the suspects were still undergoing interrogation.
It stated that the vandals who were about to perfect their evil act and wait for a boat to evacuate the illegal products took to their heels on sighting the NSCDC personnel.
The statement added that the NSCDC Commandant in Lagos State, Mr Douglas Okoro, had ordered the evacuation of the products to the State Command.
It also quoted Okoro to have said that the command would start investigation into the development and proffer solutions on how to avert a similar recurrence of such an ugly economic sabotage in the area in future.
Okoro directed that the command should beef-up security of lives and properties, oil pipelines in Badagry Division and other oil producing areas especially during the season, it said.
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He said that some people would want to exhibit desperation for making illicit money at all cost against the patriotic and collective development of the nation’s economy as the Yuletide approaches, it said.
He stated in the statement that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) office in the state had also been contacted for proper evacuation of the products because of its highly inflammable nature.
The statement said that the commandant commended the officers and reiterated the Command’s readiness and commitment to zero tolerance against oil pipeline vandalism and all forms of criminal activities. ( NAN)
