New Telegraph

NSCDC’s War Against Oil Bunkering In Niger Delta, Other Criminalities

…We’ll not relent to stamp out saboteurs -Audi

Economic Sabotage

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in its determination to salvage the nation from economic saboteurs, has dismantled many illegal oil bunkering sites. While the boats used for conveying locally refined petroleum products have been impounded, some stolen products recovered and returned to the government. It was learnt that NSCDC has been fighting oil bunkering through a multifaceted approach.

They conduct operations to arrest suspects, dismantle illegal refineries, recover stolen oil, and collaborate with other security agencies to combat oil theft, despite the challenges posed by oil bunkerers in the Niger Delta region, the Corps are still going after the saboteurs and are getting results. The mandate of the NSCDC which involves operations, surveillance, and prosecution, to combating illegal activities related to oil bunkering has yielded positive results in the Niger Delta states and some other parts of the country.

We are ready

The NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi who spoke with some selected journalists in Lagos recently said the primary function of the Corps is to protect lives and properties, but one of its crucial duties is to protect pipelines from vandals.The Corps is also involved in crisis resolutions and other security areas. The CG said, the Corps has been actively combating oil bunkering in Niger Delta states through various operations:

“We have arrested numerous suspected oil thieves, including 23 suspects in a 3,000 metric tons capacity vessel in Delta State and 10 suspects caught red-handed engaging in illicit oil theft at Watson Jetty in Warri, in the state. “The Corps has also arrested suspects at illegal refineries, such as one in Adobi that contained over 100,000 liters of crude oil.

We also uncovered an ongoing construction of a local refinery with a 60,000 liter capacity in a forest boundary between Rivers and Abia states. “Large quantities of stolen oil, equipment, and exhibits used for illegal bunkering activities have been recovered during our operations.” He said: “We also collaborates with other security agencies to combat oil theft in the region.These efforts have led to a reduction in oil theft and illegal bunkering activities, as well as a decrease in soot pollution in states like Rivers.

The Corps remains committed to curbing criminal activities that threaten the nation’s economy and security in the Niger Delta. “We are also not relenting in our efforts to stamp out criminal saboteurs from the region and any other part of the country, because they are ready to continue with their illicit deal, I want to tell them that we are not sleeping, we are always on alert to confront any challenge from them, I want to commend my men from all commands across the country.

“The Corps has made significant arrests and recoveries of critical assets and railway materials worth over N5 billion in recent operations, we have been partnering with the Nigerian Railway Corporation to fight against vandalisation and theft of railway materials and infrastructure. We have arrested a lot of suspects and recovered vandalised railway tracks and other valuables.”

CG’s SIS

The CG however said that the creation of the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS) within the Corps has significantly impacted the fight against illegal bunkering, kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and other crimes across the country. He said the CG’s SIS was created out of necessity to combat crime and conduct intelligence surveillance operation and uncover illegal oil refining sites and activities, especially in the Niger Delta states.

The team is led by DCC DanDaura Apollos and since creation of the unit they have been achieving positive results in the fight against crime. Through CG’s SIS, the Cops has arrested several suspects and recovered large quantities of stolen crude oil and equipment used for illegal bunkering. They are also used in tackling kidnapping and banditry, through CG’s SIS, several arrests have been made, the CG’s SIS also collaborated with the Female Squad to conduct intelligence operations to uncover illegal activities like kidnapping dens.

They recently discovered a den in Ibadan with malnourished victims, human skulls, and personal items of kidnapped students, CG’s SIS also raids sites suspected to be harbouring criminals, leading to arrests and disruption of criminal networks, their efforts have helped the Corps in fighting crimes. He added that through the CG’s SIS, its intelligence-led operations and collaborative efforts with other security agencies, has been instrumental in the NSCDC’s overall strategy to combat oil theft, kidnapping, banditry, and other crimes that threaten Nigeria’s economy and security. While their work has led to arrests, recoveries, and reduced crime rates across the country and they are doing more.

Female Squad

The Female Squad was established to help tackle kidnapping and youth restiveness and safeguard schools and communities from incidents of kidnapping and violence in schools and other related crimes across Nigeria. The Female Squad’s responsibility of providing security and protection for schools, especially in high-risk areas, is aimed at preventing incidents of kidnapping and violence that have disrupted education in parts of the country. The squad also gets involved in community outreach and mentorship programs to steer youth away from criminal paths and address root causes of restiveness.

Welfare

The CG said: “Aside from chasing criminals across the country, we didn’t joke with the welfare of the officers and men of the corps, because their welfare is important to me particularly. “We have constructed official and residential buildings, both within and outside the headquarters, to improve working conditions and accommodate the personnel.

“The new office complex at the NSCDC headquarters in Abuja was to provide modern, well-equipped workspaces for staff. Also residential quarters was built near the headquarters to house NSCDC officers and their families, ensuring they have access to comfortable accommodations close to their place of work and we renovates and expand the existing NSCDC state command offices across the country to create more functional and spacious facilities for operations for the personnel across the country.”

Civil Defence Academy

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has established a Civil Defence Academy in Jos, Plateau State, to provide training and education for its personnel. Some key points about the academy.

Other successes

“We arrested six people, including the owner of a warehouse where fertilizers meant for farmers was diverted to a market in Jos North, Plateau State, where the products was later recovered.” Audi said after the recovery, the fertilizer was handed over to the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture.

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