Osogbo, Osun State. In a decisive move against fuel sabotage, the Osun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has apprehended a Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) truck driver, Afeez Adegbola, over the alleged theft of 10,000 liters of premium motor spirit (PMS).
The new Osun NSCDC Commandant, Sotiyo Igbalawole, made this announcement on Saturday, November 2, 2024, while parading Adegbola and his two assistants at the command headquarters in Osogbo. According to Commandant Sotiyo, the driver and his accomplices were arrested on Friday at around 8:21 p.m., in possession of an NNPCL-branded truck with suspiciously altered fuel quantities.
The investigation revealed that the truck, registered under AGG 959 XA, had initially loaded 40,000 liters of PMS at Pinnacle Distribution Depot in Eleko, Lagos State, and was meant to deliver the full quantity to the NNPCL Mega Station in Osogbo. However, a tip-off led NSCDC officers to follow the truck, uncovering that only 30,000 liters of fuel had been delivered at the designated NNPCL station.
According to Commandant Sotiyo, the driver was caught offloading the remaining 10,000 liters at a private filling station, TEMPOLA, in Ikirun, Ifelodun Local Government Area, Osun State. Upon questioning, the suspects confessed that their supervisor had instructed them to divert a portion of the fuel to the Ikirun location, even though the entire load was intended for the NNPCL Mega Station in Osogbo.
“This is a blatant act of sabotage and theft against the state. These individuals are not only stealing fuel but are also undermining national interest,” Commandant Sotiyo stated. He warned that NSCDC would pursue and prosecute all stakeholders involved in petroleum product distribution if found sabotaging government resources.
The newly appointed Commandant Sotiyo emphasized his commitment to curbing corruption and crime within Osun State, stating, “There’s a new Sheriff in town. It will no longer be business as usual for criminally minded individuals. Either they reform, or they face the consequences.”
Sotiyo reassured residents that upon the conclusion of investigations, the suspects would be brought before a court for trial.
NSCDC’s Osun Command calls on NNPCL managers and supervisors across Nigeria to collaborate with security agencies in identifying and holding saboteurs accountable. This case serves as a warning to all, underscoring NSCDC’s firm stance against fuel diversion and theft in Nigeria.
