The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) has arrested two fishermen allegedly trying to smuggle 120 jerricans filled with petroleum products to Benin Republic.
The suspects, Jebleh Taiwo and Jebleh Abiodun, were arrested at Gbegeru beach a fishing settlement in Badagry area of Lagos State.
A wooden boat used to convey the products and an outboard engine were also recovered from them.
While parading the suspects before Journalists over the weekend, the two men confessed to be taking the products to Seme boarder, for onward exportation to the Benin Republic. They however, maintained that they were mere errand boys.
“We are just fishermen. We are not owners of the petroleum products. We were paid N500 per jerrican. We were to get N60,000 from the 120 jerricans, if we had succeeded in taking them to Benin Republic,” Taiwo said.
Lagos State command of the NSCDC, Fasiu Adeyinka, expressed shock over activities of criminals along riverrine communities in the state.
said that criminals along riverine communities were devising new ways following the closure of land border including the use of fishing boats.
Explaining how the two suspects were arrested, Adeyinka said:
“On Friday, February 14, operatives of the command attached to Badagry Division who were on patrol along Gberefun Beach intercepted a boat with two persons in it.
“On the spot search of the boat revealed that the suspects who identified themselves as Jebleh Taiwo, 20, and Jebleh Abiodun, 30, carried 120 Jerry cans of 25 litre each filled with petrol that was carefully concealed under fishing net.
“During interrogation, the suspects confessed that they were contracted to ferry the product to Seme Border by one Chief, from where the products will be moved into Benin Republic.
“They also confessed that the owner of the product bought the fuel from a petrol station in the area. They claimed that they borrowed the boat from a neighbour at Ajido beach.”
The Commandant therefore, advised residents at Badagry and its environs to discourage their people from venturing into smuggling, noting that it was not only an unpatriotic act but that nations economy had been destroyed through such act.
Meanwhile, KanyiDaily had published a video showing an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) stealing money from a woman’s bag.
