The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), says the agency has matched its words with action in the fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism among other mandates of the organisation.
The Corps’ Delta State Commandant, Akinsanya Iskilu Abiodun, disclosed this on Thursday, 24 November, 2022, while receiving an award from a contingent of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Senior Course 45 on Study Tour to the NSCDC State Commandant at the State Headquarters in Asaba, the Delta State Capital.
TheFact recalls that Akinsanya had, few months ago, vowed to end crude oil theft in the State on or before the end of December 2022, which necessitated the inauguration of Special Forces in the State: the Commandant Tactical Squad (CTS); the Commandant Monitoring Team (CMT), and the Rejigged Anti-Vandal Squad (RAS).
He posited that before now, illegal dealings on petroleum products, illegal production and transportation of petroleum products was an all comers affair, and was on a daily geometric increase, with grave implications on the nation’s economy, the environment and the climate, not to mention health hazards posed to human, animal and aquatic life.
However, he noted, the narrative of the petroleum sector as at today had changed for good, and attributed the achievements recorded so far to the robust synergy, cooperation and collaborations with other sister security agencies as created, maintained and sustained by his administration.
“Today, as we speak, all the creeks have been tactically fumigated, vandals smoked out, new discoveries were made, water bodies saturated, vandals arrested and prosecuted, trucks, SUVs, and articulated vehicles impounded, adulterated products destroyed, dump sites bursted, artisanal refineries crushed and decimated by the Special Forces”, Akinsanya said, adding that, the menace of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism among others had been decimated close to zero if not totally eradicated”.
Presenting the award, the Contingent’s leader, Air Commodore BOC Ifeobu, stated that the NSCDC State Commandant was awarded for his selfless commitment and significant role in the security achitecture of the State, which he achieved with sterling qualities he possesses, that are worthy of emulation.
The NSCDC is the lead agency for the protection of all government critical national assets and infrastructure as enshrined in Section 2 and 3 of the NSCDC Act of 2003. Section 3 subsection 1, 2 and 3 of the NSCDC Act 2007 as amended, empowers the Corps with the prosecutory powers against crude oil theft thereby positioning the NSCDC as the only security agency with such jurisdiction to prosecute crude oil thieves.
