The Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, on Friday, December 17, 2021, arrested three suspects and intercepted 137 kegs filled with petrol by alleged smugglers.
The suspects were allegedly trying to smuggle the products out of the country through the Nigeria-Benin Republic-border in Kwara State North Senatorial District.
According to the spokesman of the NSCDC in the state, Babawale Zaid Afolabi, the crack and tactical Anti-Vandal team of the corps, led by the head of the unit, Ayinde Olatunde Yusuf, acted on Intelligence information and a tip off rounded up the three suspects on their way to Benin Republic with the petroleum products loaded inside 137 kegs.
The three suspects arrested were Jimoh Serifdeen 19, Abdul Majid Saminu, 20, and Usman Muhammed 18.
According to the spokesman, other suspected accomplices ran away on sighting the NSCDC patrol team and a manhunt has begun in order to pick them up.
He explained further that the petroleum product was allegedly loaded from one Wasmak filling station in Kaiama, the headquarters of Kaiama local government area of the state.
The filling station has also been sealed up by the NSCDC.
The head of the Anti Vandal Unit Ayinde Olatubde Yusuf, who also led the operation used the opportunity to read riot act to vandals and other economic saboteurs in the state to desist from the act as the NSCDC and other security agencies are all out to make life difficult for the criminals.
As manhunt continues for the arrest of other members of the gang, the Kwara State Commandant of the NSCDC Iskilu Ayinla Makinde, has ordered that the suspects be charged to court after the completion of investigations.
