Afeez Adegbola, a truck driver for the Nigerian National Petroleum corporation Limited (NNPCL), was detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps’ (NSCDC) Osun Command on suspicion of stealing 10,000 liters of gasoline meant for the corporation.
During a Saturday public parade in Osogbo, Osun NSCDC Commandant Igbalawole Sotiyo announced the arrest of the culprit, Adebola, and his two motorboys.
Sotiyo claims that following a tip, the arrest took place on Friday at approximately 8:21 p.m.
Adegbola loaded 40,000 liters of Premium Motor Spirit, or PMS, also known as gasoline, at the Pinnacle Distribution Depot in Eleko, Lagos, with instructions to transfer the fuel to the NNPCL Mega Station in Osogbo, according to the head of the Osun NSCDC.
However, NSCDC officers tracked the truck, registered as AGG 959 XA, during surveillance and discovered that only 30,000 liters were delivered to the designated station, with the remaining 10,000 liters being diverted to TEMPOLA, a private filling station in Ikirun, Ifelodun local government council area, he said.
The suspects allegedly acknowledged that the entire 40,000-liter consignment was intended for the Osogbo NNPCL station, but they asserted that their employer gave them instructions to unload 10,000 liters at the private station instead.
Sotiyo condemned the conduct, calling it theft and economic sabotage.
He also exhorted those involved in the distribution of petroleum to refrain from such actions.
He promised that those responsible for product diversion will face consequences and urged NNPCL managers around the country to collaborate with the NSCDC to stop such occurrences.
“It is an act of theft and sabotage against the state,” he declared. They are anti-state agents and saboteurs.
“NSCDC is using this platform to alert all parties involved in the distribution of petroleum products across the country that anyone found to be interfering with government operations will be caught and face legal action.”
“NSCDC uses this medium to request that NNPCL Managers/Supervisors across the country collaborate with the NSCDC to effectively prosecute saboteurs,” he stated.
Additionally, Sotiyo warned the state’s criminal elements.
However, NSCDC officers tracked the truck, registered as AGG 959 XA, during surveillance and discovered that only 30,000 liters were delivered to the designated station, with the remaining 10,000 liters being diverted to TEMPOLA, a private filling station in Ikirun, Ifelodun local government council area, he said.
The suspects allegedly acknowledged that the entire 40,000-liter consignment was intended for the Osogbo NNPCL station, but they asserted that their employer gave them instructions to unload 10,000 liters at the private station instead.
Sotiyo condemned the conduct, calling it theft and economic sabotage.
He also exhorted those involved in the distribution of petroleum to refrain from such actions.
“I would want to let the wonderful people of Osun State know that a new sheriff has arrived in the area.
“Business as usual is no longer the case. Therefore, everyone in the state who has a criminal mindset ought to change their attitude or be prepared to deal with the fallout from their actions.
Sotiyo disclosed, “the suspects will be charged to a court at the end of the investigation.”
