NSCDC intercepts Ministry of Mines and Steel vehicle loaded with stolen oil

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Bayelsa State Command, has apprehended suspected oil thieves, including one Philip Tuma, who claims to be an employee of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.


He was nabbed with an official vehicle being used to convey petroleum products suspected to have been stolen. The vehicle, a Toyota Hilux van, which was used by the suspects to beat security checkpoints, was rounded up on Thursday in Yenagoa, by the anti-vandals team of the corps. . 

Tuma said he worked in the ministry and was officially allowed to keep the vehicle. He, however, exonerated his boss, saying his supervisor knew nothing about deployment of the vehicle to transport oil suspected to have been stolen. .

Tuma said he worked in collusion with his younger brothers whom he claimed were idling away due to the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities. 

The suspect said, “I work in the ministry and was given the vehicle to keep as a worker. My boss has no knowledge of what I have done. This is my first time. My younger ones, who are at home because of the ASUU strike, convinced me to follow them because they needed money for their tuition.” 

The Deputy Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Chikere Isidore, who spoke shortly after the parade and destruction of some of the impounded products, said the suspects would be prosecuted.