By Pita Chib, Minna 

 The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps,  NSCDC, Niger State Command Wednesday   arrested 16 persons in connection with alleged diversion of petroleum motor spirit,  PMS.

 Theledgerng.com reports  that the command sized eight trucks containing 469,000 litres,  one truck containing 33,000 litres of fuel, another truck one containing 40,000 litres and six trucks containing 66,000 litres of fuel

 Those arrested by the operatives  includes the drivers whose names were given as Fatai Sulaiman, Ajibade Wasiu, Abbdulganiyu Abdulkhadir, Sani Ibrahim, Salihu Musa, Abdulganiyu Abdullahi  Fatai Atanda and Rilwanu Sanusi.

 Parading the suspects before journalists, the state Commandant of the NSCDC Mr Philip Ayuba, said the suspects intended to divert the PMS to Benin republic. 

  Ayuba  said the suspects were all arrested at Mokwa town, adding that from the waybills carried by the suspects they had passed the spot where they were supposed to have discharged the PMS which went to confirm that they wanted to smuggle the products.

 He said the arrests were made following  a tip off by concerned Nigerians who had followed the activities of the smugglers for some time.

 Ayuba who commended the role played by patriotic Nigerians, the NNPC and the DPR Ayuba said that they all cooperated with the organisation to facilitate the arrest of the suspects.

 According to him, the Commandant General of the NSCDC Alhaji Mohammed  Abdullahi Gana, had directed that the suspects and the vehicles with their contents should be handed over to the NNPC 

 Ayuba warned against all forms of smuggling saying it was an act of economic sabotage which carried stiff penalties.

 One of the suspects Rilwan Sanusi from Oyo state told our correspondent that they were "resting" at Mokwa before they were apprehended .

  He  however could not explain why they passed where they were supposed to have discharged the PMS.