Fuel hoarding: Gombe NSCDC arrests 10 persons over artificial scarcity
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Gombe State command says no fewer than 10 persons have been arrested for allegedly aiding artificial scarcity of petrol in the state.
It also impounded one NNPC branded petrol tanker, two golf (station wagons), many drums of PMS, two buses and a tricycle.
According to the command’s commandant, Waziri Goni the suspects were caught during its operation between 1:am-4:am, while selling to black marketers.
Goni revealed that the manager of Dan-Marna filling station was arrested selling petroleum into two golf vehicles, recalling: “one vehicle was carrying 40 jerricans while the other was with four drums loaded with PMS.”
He said also that his men on March 14 arrested eight people with two buses carrying 101 jerricans and four drums of petrol at Al-Ansar filling station in Kwanam Kashere in Akko local government area.
The Commandant said his undercover men, on March 23 arrested one 42-year old Mohammed Maigari, an NNPC driver with vehicle number: DKU355XA at Jiri Brothers filling station while allegedly diverting the product, “the fuel belonged to the NNPC Mega station but was diverted,” he said.
He said Maigari was arrested with the manager of the station, Bala Yaro while assisting to dislodge the product.
Goni said, “When we accosted Bala, he told us that it was the Managing Director that directed the truck to dispense one compartment in the filling station.”
He however alleged that the management of NNPC in the state has not been upright with his command in fighting fuel scarcity menace as they preferred to sell at higher price to Independent marketers who sell at between N285 per litre.
While urging state government to help in ensuring that all cleared trucks were accompanied by a NSCDC Corps to dislodging point.
“We also wish that the daily manifest be sent to our email to ascertain the exact station each truck belongs to so that we may send our officers to monitor the complete sells of the product,” he added.
