By Yekini Jimoh
The Kogi State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested two persons and sealed off one petrol station in connection with the sales of adulterated Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to motorists.
The state Commandant of NSCDC, Suleiman Mafara while parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Lokoja on Wednesday, said, his men acting on credible intelligence, swung into action and arrested one Sani Nuhu a pump attendant and Ibrahim Alih, pump Engineer working for Bomac filling station on Okene-Lokoja highway.
The commandant disclosed that six drivers of Peugeot boxers who bought the fuel early this morning lodged complaints of the damage done to their vehicles after they had bought petrol from the station.
He explained that after critical examination of the product, it was discovered to be highly adulterated with water, hence, the arrest of the pump attendant and Engineer right at the station.
The commandant who disclosed that the enabling laws of the corps empowered them to arrest and prosecute anyone circumventing the economic policies of the government, called on the general public to avail security agencies with credible information that will lead to the bursting of crimes and criminality.
”This act of selling adulterated petrol to motorists and above the regulated price constitutes economic sabotage. We are empowered by the enabling law to arrest citizens trying to frustrate the economic policies of the government. Selling adulterated petrol and the regulated price is purely sabotaging, and the perpetrators will be treated as saboteurs.
“When we complete our investigation and whoever is found culpable will definitely face the wrath of the law.
“I’m using this medium to solicit the support of the general public to always give timely and reliable information to the security agencies. We can’t do it alone, we need the cooperation of the public to fight crime and criminality, and it is one such collaboration that leads to the arrest of the staff of the filling station.
“I urge you to say something when you see something, and all of us, when we do our part, we will be able to defeat criminals in whatever forms in our society.” He solicited.
He, however, reiterated the command’s commitment to flush out criminals from the state, revealed how the Commandant -General Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has been supportive to the command to achieve its mandate.
However one of the pump attendants while speaking with the newsmen said he monitored the discharge of the product into the tank on Tuesday and it was satisfied okay but was surprised when these six customers accused him of selling adulterated petrol to them before the men of NSCDC arrested him.
