Pix: Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, CG, NSCDC

Abia State commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Akinsola Aderemi has said the command will not let economic saboteurs go scot-free in the state.

Aderemi made the vow when three suspected oil pipeline vandals, oil thieves, and illegal petroleum products dealers were paraded at the command’s headquarters in Umuahia, the state capital.

He said the suspects were arrested by the Anti-Vandal Patrol team of the Command in Umuowaga Umuelechi Obuzo Asa in Ukwa West local government area of the state.

“The arrest was enhanced through actionable intelligence, which prompted the team to respond swiftly. And they were found with substantial quantities of petroleum products,” he said.

He identified the suspects as Oscar Eteobong, 37 years old and Issac Aniete Edemba Udoh, 40 years both from Akwa Ibom State, and Emmanuel Uzoma Sunday, 20 years from Abia State.

According to him, further investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend those involved “in this criminal enterprise to bring them to book no matter who they are”.

Aderemi, who reaffirmed the command’s commitment to rooting out criminal from the state, warned them to desist from their activities or be ready for the consequences.

The commandant urged the public to collaborate with the command by providing it with credible intelligence that would help in apprehending suspected criminals.