The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has apprehended 69 oil thieves and vandals between January and April this year.
Speaking in Uyo Thursday, Akwa Ibom State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Abidemi Majekodunmi during an interaction with our Correspondent said the Corps has the mandate to protect government’s critical infrastructure and ensure that economic saboteurs in the state were brought to a stop.
He said the Corps in the first quarter of the year placed significant emphasis on the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure.
The State Commandant explained that Akwa Ibom was known for hosting a network of pipelines that must be protected against criminal and non-state actors tampering with the pipelines for economic profiteering and sabotage.
He disclosed that the Command had to deploy intelligence, capital and assets to perfect their activities which later served as deterrent to non-state actors who were always eager to steal petroleum products, The Trumpet gathered.
“When we get quality intelligence, we plan and execute operations to make arrests. We have, currently, about seven boats. In that particular case, we have 69 suspects and illegal dealers in petroleum products.”
Read Also: IGP laments attacks on officers, facilities in southeast
He said the suspected oil thieves had been charged to court while investigation was ongoing to profile them as the court would decide on their cases
He said that the suspected oil thieves were being prosecuted adding that the law would have to take its course and those found guilty would face the wrath of the law.
He charged communities with critical government infrastructure to see it as their own and protect them against vandals.
He maintained that the Civil Defence must continue to promote crisis management and be proactive in dealing with conflict situations in the state through peace and conflict resolution.
