NSCDC parades 20 suspects, says oil theft must be checked
Port Harcourt -- The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has reiterated that oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and illegal oil refining activities must be checked, assuring that the it has intensified its fight against the menace.
The NSCDC Commandant in Rivers State, Abdu Tambuwal, stated this while parading 20 suspected oil thieves, 11 trucks, 10 salon cars and buses laden with suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, or diesel in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Tambuwal, who disclosed that the arrests were made between January 22, 2022 and February 1, 2022, explained that oil theft and illegal oil bunkering has been a disturbing issue in Rivers State, which, he said was a strategic state in the country.
He said the feat was made possible by the Commandant General's Special Intelligence Squad, deployed to the state to carry out microscopic investigation and monitoring of oil pipelines in the state in a bid to curtail oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and other related matters.
"Oil theft must be checked. NSCDC is all out for this very important and startegic fight, which we must win. The directive from the Commandant General is that we must intensify the fight against illegal oil bunkering and also illegal activities by vandals and other miscreants in the state.
"We must vigorously carryout series of marine operations and land operations in the state to ensure effective service deliver y.
"Today, 1st of February 2022, we are parading 20 suspected oil thieves, 11 trucks laden with illegally refined AGO, 10 cars and buses laden with suspected illegally refined AGO concealed in sack bags.
"The ongoing fight against vandalism of the critical Assets and Infrastructures in Rivers state will not stop until the state is rid of most, if not all the oil thieves who are bent on causing environmental hazards.
"I came with the mandate from my Commandant General Dr. Ahmed Audi to make sure all the oil thieves within and around Rivers state either relocate from Rivers state or stay clear of all the pipelines,” he said.