By Yetunde Bada
Minna – The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Thursday arrested eight trucks, totaling 469,000 liters of petrol, alleged meant to be diverted to Benin Republic.
Addressing to newsmen in Minna, the NSCDC Commandant in Niger State, Mr Phillip Ayuba, explained that some of the trucks had waybills reading Ilorin, Kebbi and had no business in Mokwa where they were caught.
”The command made an arrest of vehicles carrying petroleum products varying from 36,000 to 66,000 litres at Mokwa going to Babana, a border town between Nigeria and Benin Republic.
”Some of the drivers say they don’t know the owners of these products. Prices have skyrocketed because of activities of these saboteurs.
”The NSCDC Commandant-General, Abdullahi Gana, has directed that we hand over the products to the NNPC and DPR. They know where the products are headed,” Ayuba said.
According to him, the arrest is a clarion call to all saboteurs to desist, be patriotic and stop suffering fellow Nigerians.
”Nobody is happy with what is happening. We urge the public to please notify us on illegal activities because this scarcity affects goods and services and everybody.
”They stayed two days in Mokwa during this time of scarcity and there were many trucks there, why were they the only ones picked,” he said.
The DPR Niger State Operations Controller in Minna, Mr Abdullahi Isah, confirmed the confiscation to newsmen, saying ”some of the drivers did not present the waybill immediately they were arrested.
”The waybill they later presented showed that the products were not meant for Niger state though one of the trucks is detailed to Babana in Niger State and will be accompanied there”.
”Upon conviction, they will pay N200 per litre to government coffers as penalty.”
Also, Mr Fatai Atanda, one of the drivers arrested, said ”we stopped at Mokwa tired, hoping to rest but we were arrested.
”We were on the right route. We notified our union, they spoke with the civil defence but we were still brought here. We have also notified the marketers.”
Another driver, Fatai Atanda, told newsmen ”we loaded at NIPCO in Lagos. Our waybill is genuine. We did not steal”. (NAN)