The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC,has arrested oil thieves and recovered 1,100litres of Petrol which they planned to smuggle out of the country through the nation’s waterways to Benin Republic.
The NSCDC Commandant in charge of Lagos State,Iskil Makinde,at the display of the exhibits in Lagos on Monday,said the thieves were arrested in their boat while trafficking the product to Benin from Badagry ,Lagos ,where it was siphoned.
Makinde said the Petroleum products were concealed in polythene bags and kegs and that attempts to stop the culprits intitially proved unsuccessful.
According to him,”a hot pursuit by the NSCDC marine corps of the thieves made them abandon the boat and jumped into the sea to escape.”
The Commandant gave other exhibits recovered as a wooden canoe which cracked in the course of bringing it to shore, and a 740HP Yamaha engine used to power the boat.
He described the incident as unfortunate especially at a time the country is grappling with the impact of covid-19 and needed resources to stabilize.
