The Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS) of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested five individuals on charges of large-scale crude oil theft in Rivers State.
The suspects were apprehended in the “Sambisa Forest” area of Umuedeokwara, Odagwa Community in Etche Local Government Area, where they allegedly siphoned oil from a flowline into a concealed reservoir.
According to an NSCDC spokesperson, the operation followed credible intelligence from local sources who reported suspicious activities in the area. Investigators found that the suspects had diverted crude oil into a large underground pit and packed it into cellophane bags and sacks, estimated to hold over 100,000 liters.
The suspects confessed to the crime during preliminary questioning, and authorities recovered significant evidence at the site. Seized items included large quantities of crude oil, industrial hoses used for illegal connections, drums, jerrycans, buckets, and other equipment for siphoning and storage.
