Abia State commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Paul Igwebuike has warned criminal elements in the state to turn new leave or relocate immediately.
Igwebuike stated this when six persons suspected of illegal dealing in petroleum products were paraded at the command’s headquarters in Umuahia, the state capital.
He said the command is poised to execute its mandate and the zero tolerance of the commandant general of the corps, Ahmed Audi for illegal dealings in petroleum products and vandalism.
“I want to assure the people of the state that under my leadership, the command will stop at nothing in our resolve to checkmate unwholesome activities by criminals,” he vowed.
“Although I am just few days in the state, but from the day I assumed duty, I made it clear that our activities will be intelligence driven and it is paying off already,” he added.
Explaining that the parading was a strong signal to criminals, he said the suspects were arrested at Gass Line by Iheoma, Uratta, Aba, following a tip-off from the command’s informants.
The suspects are Maduakolam Uzoije (25 years), David Lazarus (24 years), Anambra; Chukwuebuka Onwuzurigbo (18 years), Abuchi Eze (35 years), Tochukwu Onwuzurigbo (48 years), and Ezechi Emeka (41years).
According to him, items recovered from the suspects include a truck with Reg. No. SSM 839 X loaded with about 42 drums of petroleum products suspected to be crude oil.
He thanked the general public for their support through providing of timely information and reiterated that every information the command received shall be treated with utmost confidentiality.
The commandant, therefore, assured that upon conclusion of investigations into the allegation, the suspects will be charged to court for diligent prosecution.