The Ondo Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has arrested three suspected oil thieves and impounded about 4,000 litres of adulterated diesel.

The state commandant of NSCDC, Oluyemi Ibiloye, disclosed this at a news conference in Akure on Friday.

Mr Ibiloye said the suspects were arrested in the riverine area of the state 24 hours after his resumption as the 20th commandant.

He said that when he resumed office, he gave the marching order to the command’s anti-vandal squad that all criminals along waterways in the state must be apprehended.

“Upon the matching order and based on credible intelligence, the marine patrol team of the anti-vandal unit was able to intercept and arrest the three suspects.,” Mr Ibiloye said.

He said the suspects were arrested at about 1:42 a.m. on January 10 in Awoye, Ilaje Local Government Area.

The commandant said the suspects were Omoetan Iseoluwa Innocent, 30; Ogbodo Adeshina, 19; and Ajana Good Kehinde, 21.

“The suspects arrested had a 40 horsepower engine and a wooden boat containing about 4,000 litres of illegally refined petroleum products, suspected to be adulterated diesel, concealed in cellophane bags,’’ he said.

Mr Ibiloye, who also said the suspects would be charged to court after investigations were concluded, vowed that “any form of criminals and criminality would be met with very stiff penalty”.

Speaking with journalists, Mr Omoetan, one of the suspects who claimed to be the boat’s driver, pleaded for forgiveness.

“Actually, I was into fixing boats before one woman called me to help her drive a boat to carry some load and promised to pay me N100,000.

“Upon hearing this, I called two of my friends to follow me so they could see little money, and I didn’t know it was an illegal thing I wanted to involve myself.

“I’m begging the government to forgive me; I will not involve myself in any illegal thing again in my life,” he said.

(NAN)