Nigerian army hands over 5 illegal oil bunkerers to EFCC
Ajigi Olatomiwa
Five illegal oil bunkerers arrested by troops of the 130 Battalion of the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police, Port- Harcourt Barracks, Rivers State have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The suspects comprising four men and a lady according to EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren are: Sokari Iminabo; Segun Olagunju; Uche Emmanuel; Obinna Ezime and Mrs Tony Patience.
They were arrested at Anyako waterside in Sama Community of Asari Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The suspects were intercepted with a 30-tons truck loaded with suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, AGO.
The truck used was detected to have in-built locally constructed surface tank loaded with the AGO but the product was concealed with bags of animal feeds to mask the sight and odour of the AGO from possible detection.
In a hand-over statement signed by Major Y.I Rena and addressed to the Zonal Office, EFCC, Port- Harcourt, the Nigerian Army said its preliminary investigation revealed that, at the point of arrest, the driver of the truck abandoned the vehicle and fled to an unknown destination.
However, five suspects trailing the movement of the truck were arrested and their offer of a bribe to release the truck declined.
The suspects are now in the custody of the EFCC and would be charged to court soon.
