NSCDC Boss Inaugurates Special Squad To Curb Oil Theft

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The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Muhammadu, has set up a special taskforce to clampdown on oil saboteurs.

The corps made the development known in a statement on Monday as part of efforts to stem the tide of vandalism, illegal refineries, oil theft, and illegal bunkering,

The NSCDC boss also directed the State Commandants to cooperate and work in synergy with the team assigned to their states for the special operation to halt marketers involved in diversion of petroleum products.

He said that the operation also extends to stopping filling stations selling above approved government pump price, hoarding of products, those involved in black marketing and racketeering as well as other related crimes.

Abdullahi asked the squad and other officers to live up to expectation to justify the confidence the government and the people have for the corps by ensuring that vandalism is reduced to the barest minimum.

“We are an agency of government created to tackle this onerous task of fighting the scourge of vandalism, illegal bunkering, illegal refinery, oil theft, and other allied crimes. Therefore, we will continue to fight these illicit acts diligently in ensuring that the nation is rid of these obnoxious activity perpetrated by some few individuals that have posed as an ‘enemy of the state’ as a result of greed and selfishness,” the NSCDC boss said.

Abdullahi disclosed that as at December 2015, his men had identified and destroyed over 200 illegal refineries in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Edo, Kogi, Ondo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom States amongst others.

He said that over 120 suspects involved in the act of vandalism and other associated crimes have been prosecuted and sentenced to various prison terms by the high courts in their respective states.

The NSCDC Commandant General added that at least 250 persons were being prosecuted presently while over 80 trucks containing petroleum products impounded with several operational equipment belonging to suspected vandals have been recovered.