The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ondo State Command, says its operatives have arrested a pregnant woman and 10 other suspects involved in alleged illegal oil bunkering in the state.

The NSCDC State Commandant, Dr Hammed Abodunrin, made the disclosure while parading the suspects before newsmen in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Monday.

Abodunrin said the suspects were arrested at Waterway in Iju-Osun, Irele Local Government Area of the state with products suspected to be adulterated diesel.

He stated that the quantity has not been ascertained, adding that the product was packed in drums, polytene bags, and jerrycans loaded in four wooden boats.

Abodunrin said the arrest of the suspects was in response to the directive of NSCDC Commandant General to reorganise the corps’ anti-vandalism unit to strengthen its operations.

He noted that the command has benefited from the recent deployment of gunboats to beep up operations in the waterways.

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“All these efforts have started yielding positive results. As of Sunday, 11 suspects were arrested with products suspected to be adulterated AGO.

“One of them is a heavily pregnant woman and two are minors, so we decided not to take them into custody because of their conditions.

“We have taken their statements, whenever we need them we will pick them up and we are going to conduct investigation immediately and take them to court as soon as we conclude our investigation,” he said.

Abodunrin alleged that the suspects were unable to say where they got the consignment from and conveying it to.

The NSCDC commandant, however, warned criminals to stay away from the state, saying the corps was determined to track, arrest, and prosecute them.

He equally urged the general public to be vigilant and always give adequate information for the corps to stem vandalism of critical national assets in the state.

The Star