The Rivers State command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested no fewer than 16 persons suspected to be engaged in diversion of stolen crude oil and other petroleum products.
While parading the suspects in Port Harcourt, NSDDC Commandant, Muktar Lawal, explained that they were arrested for operating artisanal refinery at Ibelebiri Community in Rivers State.
Lawal explained that the anti-vandal team of NDCDC saddled with the responsibility of tracking those involved in oil bunkering had on 21st September intercepted two trucks along Jesuit College and Abonnema Wharf in Port Harcourt.
Lawal stated that some of the arrested suspects have been arraigned and would be wrath of the law if found guilty of the charges.
In another development, the Rivers State Police Command has announced killing of a suspected notorious criminal who specializes in kidnapping and terrorizing commuters along the Port Harcourt-Owerri road.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, told journalists that the cultist and kidnap kingpin who specializes in terrorizing people in the Ikwerre local government area was killed last night after the criminal engaged Police in a gun battle.
He said the kingpin known as Promise Nduka Nwome, aka Agbaisiegbe of Omarelu, was killed in Ikwerre local Government Area in Rivers state when the cultist and his gang attempted to hijack a commercial bus returning from Owerri into Port Harcourt.
Omoni said the criminals on sighting the police engaged them in a gun battle which left one of the kidnappers fatally wounded while other members of the gang fled with gunshot wounds.
He appeals to members of the public to furnish the police with information on anybody treating gun wounds outside the hospitals.
He said items recovered from the criminals include one AK47 riffle and several arms and ammunition.