NSCDC Arrests Two Suspects For Crude Oil Theft In Abia

Special Intelligence Squad of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), established under the leadership of Commandant General Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has apprehended two individuals for alleged crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in Abia State.

According to a press statement issued over the weekend by NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, CSC Babawale Zaid Afolabi, the suspects were caught siphoning over 100,000 litres of crude oil along Umuhololo/Etitiuzor Road, Owaza, in Ukwa West Local Government Area.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Chukwuekpe Okeke, 40, from Umuebom Autonomous Community, Ukwa West LGA, and Kingsley Madubuachi Conelius, 31, from Obibor Community, Ukwa West LGA, who is reportedly a member of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria.

They were apprehended between 3:24 a.m. and 8:21 a.m. on February 14, 2025, following credible intelligence.

The NSCDC report revealed that the suspects had tampered with an underground crude oil pipeline by connecting long industrial hoses to siphon the oil into hidden pit reservoirs in the forest. The stolen crude was then stored in plastic containers and cellophane bags.

A report confirms that “NSCDC Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS) acted swiftly to an intelligence that some suspected vandals and miscreants were vandalizing the installed crude oil pipeline laid and that passing through the Umuhololo community, Owaza, Ukwa West LGA of Abia State.”

Upon arrival at the scene, the Special Intelligence Squad uncovered massive storage of stolen crude oil and seized various exhibits, including industrial hoses of different sizes, plastic buckets, control valves, slippers belonging to fleeing suspects, a Tecno mobile phone, and a black Legend XYM SYM motorcycle.

The arrested individuals have confessed to their roles in the operation, and the NSCDC has since alerted the pipeline maintenance team, which has sealed the tampered section.

Commending the public for providing vital intelligence that led to the arrest, Commandant General Ahmed Abubakar Audi urged citizens to continue reporting suspicious activities to security agencies to help curb oil theft and other economic crimes.