On Saturday, the Kwara Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) announced the arrest of three people and the seizure of 137 kegs of fuel trafficked into Benin Republic.
Mr Babawale Afolabi, the Command’s spokesperson, said in a statement made available to newsmen in Ilorin that suspected smugglers were apprehended on the Nigeria-Benin Republic border.
“On December 17, the corps’ tactical anti-vandal team acted on intelligence information and apprehended three suspects on their way to Benin Republic with the petroleum products loaded inside 137 kegs.”
The spokesman, on the other hand, said the corps was hot on the tails of other suspects who fled when they saw the patrol team.
He claimed that the petroleum product was loaded from a filling station in Kaiama, the headquarters of the Baruten Local Government Area, and that the station had been sealed.
Afolabi stated that the operation was led by the head of the Anti Vandal Unit, Ayinde Yusuf, who warned that the corps would not spare vandals and other economic saboteurs operating in the state.
“The NSCDC and other security organizations are all out to make life miserable for criminals,” he continued.
According to the spokesman, the State Commandant, Makinde Ayinla, has ordered that the suspects be charged in court once the investigation is completed.