The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps on Friday denied demanding bribe from the driver of a petroleum tanker in Ekpoma, Edo State.

It was learnt that officials of the Edo State Command had Friday allegedly requested an undisclosed amount of money as gratification after accusing the driver identified as Zakari of conveying illegal petroleum products.

But the spokesperson for the command, Mr. Ogbebor Efosa, described the allegation as an attempt to smear the image of the security agency and said that the command had established a case of diversion of petroleum product.

Efosa, in a statement, explained that the truck was loaded in Lagos and was to offload at Ijora, according to the way bill, but was sighted in Auchi instead.

He also dismissed the claim that the tanker was shot at by NSCDC officials, adding that one of the tyres was deflated to prevent the driver from escaping with the vehicle after he fled into the bush.

Efosa said, “When he (driver) was stopped at first, he failed to stop. Later, the officers followed the truck and finally stopped it, even as the driver ran into the bush.

“One of the tyres was deflated because it was getting late to prevent the driver from taking the vehicle away later. Then, after several hours, he came out from his hiding place to meet the officers and when he was interrogated, they discovered it was a case of diversion.”

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