The National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Gombe, yesterday paraded a 25-year-old engine oil dealer, Nuhu Umar, adter he was arrested for being in possession of eight drums of adulterated engine oil.

Addressing journalists in Gombe, the NSCDC commandant, Waziri Goni, said the suspect was arrested by his men who were on patrol and wanted to buy engine oil only to discover that the trader was selling adulterated oil.

He said, when probed further, the suspect confessed that he had been in the business for a year with his supplier and business partner, one Habibu Ibrahim, based in Kano.

“This man was arrested by our men, just by coincidence, because they were out on patrol when they stumbled on him while trying to buy engine oil to top the engine of the patrol van. He has confessed that he knew it was adulterated and even said his supplier was one Habibu Ibrahim in Kano,” he said.

He said the adulterated engine oil was easily discovered by his men because it was smelling of a lot of diesel and kerosine.

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According to him, the command will continue to intensify the campaign against adulterated petroleum products, warning that any dealer or trader caught with it will surely face the wrath of law.

He advised members of the public to be careful while buying engine oil by the roadside and also report any trader suspected of selling adulterated products.

Nuhu, while speaking with journalists, confirmed that he has been in the business for more than a year and that he knew the engine oil was adulterated from Kano by his partner and supplier.

He said, “I used to sell 20 litres at N21,000 while the original engine oil is sold at N25,000 and people do come and buy it from me. It is true it is adulterated but not by me. It is adulterated by my partner.” and supplier in Kano and I don’t know how they do it,” he said.

The state chairman of Engine Lubricant Dealers Association, Alhaji Hassan Bukar, said this was the first time they discovered such adulterated engine oil in large quantities in the state.

Bukar said the association has always been partnering with the NSCDC to flush out adulterated lubricant oil and will continue to do so.

“On our side, we take more stringent measures against any member of our association caught with such act because the damage to the economy is huge. We will continue to warn our members to abstain from such dubious business and we advise them to do clean business with people so that they can enjoy their profit,” he said.

Commandant Waziri Goni said the NSCDC is continuing with the investigation to arrest his collaborator who is in Kano and will charge the suspect to court as soon as investigation is completed.