EFCC arrests 5 suspected oil thieves in Rivers

The operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested five suspected oil bunkerers for dealing in petroleum products without requisite licence in Rivers State.

According to a statement made available to The Star on Friday by the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, the suspects were arrested on Monday, April 26, 2022, in an uncompleted one-storey building in Eastern bypass, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Uwujaren noted that the suspects were allegedly operating a private jetty, with two vessels christened, Fol Courage and Samriyahkingstown, anchored at the jetty.

The arrested suspects are Ubong Samson Archubong, Iminabo Williams, Ndah Philip Ntia, Egbocha Kennedy, and Francis Innocent.

The EFCC spokesperson added that verified intelligence available to the anti-graft showed that the suspects were illegally refining petroleum products from the premises where they were arrested and loading oil into trucks and small vehicles that patronize them as major customers.

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He noted that the jetty is allegedly owned by a traditional ruler.

Other items recovered from the suspects include a Toyota car, 203 jerry cans of 25 litres capacity each, 10 drums of 250 litres capacity each, one sieve, 11 pumping machines and hose, four containers, two lines of building with many offices in the jetty, a storage  tank of about 60,000 litres capacity, one rescue fiver boat and 10 Geepee tanks.

Uwujaren stated that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The Star