The Nigerian Army said on Friday it arrested 14 tankers suspected to be loaded with crude oil stolen from the NNPC pipeline in Abaji, Federal Capital Territory.
Commander, Guards Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, said at a news conference in Abuja that the tankers were arrested on March 10 by the army troops at Toto checkpoint in Toto Local Government Area of Nassarawa State, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
He said that the troops from 177 Guards Battalion, stationed at Toto checkpoint, intercepted the tanks on their way to Kano by 4 p.m.
"However, the owner of the tankers attempted to bribe our troops which was outrightly rejected and the incidence promptly reported to the appropriate superior authority.
"And the tankers subsequently impounded and moved to 177 guards battalion in Keffi. The owner and 15 other suspects were arrested in the process," he said.
Atewe said the principal suspect admitted that he and other members of his syndicate syphoned the crude oil from the broken NNPC pipeline along Abaji in the FCT.
He said one AK 47 rifle and a magazine were also recovered from one of the suspects.
He said that the suspects had been handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution.
