NSCDC Vows To Fish Out And Prosecute Sponsors Of Oil Bunkering In Rivers State
By Bukar BOLORI
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has vowed to vehemently resist the illegal operations of pipeline vandals, fish out and prosecute their sponsors in line with the country’s extant laws.
NSCDC Commandant General; Dr Ahmed Audi made this vow on Monday even as he hinted that the NSCDC under his watch would remain steadfast in fighting against oil theft, vandalism and economic sabotage in the oil sector.
Briefing news men through the National Public Relations Officer, Afolabi Babawale the NSCDC boss decried the situation in Odagwa community at Etche in Rivers State where the Commandant General Special Intelligence Squad had earlier fought and vehemently resisted the illegal operations of pipeline vandals, noting that the Corps is poised to fish out their sponsors and prosecute them according to the extant laws of the federation.
Audi made the call while reaffirming his determination to wage relentless war against those milking from the oil regions through illegal dealings in petroleum products.
The call came after his operational tour to the Niger Delta in order to boost the morale of the operatives, monitored some major oil Installations and the anti-vandal operations in the waterways.
He said the CG’s SIS led by Commandant Apollo Dandaura has made remarkable and undeniable achievements in combating crude oil theft in the Niger Delta as over 65 oil dumps and illegal refineries have been dismantled lately.
He said: “While monitoring oil installation and facilities across the Niger Delta; our men responded swiftly to an Intelligence tip-off that there has been an organised operation of illegal refining of crude oil ongoing in the creeks at Odagwa Community in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“Upon arrival the CG’s SIS discovered that vandals had manoeuvred through the creeks and accessed the main oil trunk line connected their installed pipes and channelled the crude into reservoirs being directed through cooking process and later packaged and bagged in Cellophane nylons and Kegs”.
“As they sighted our men from afar, the suspects took to their heels while the operatives uncovered the local illegally refining process at the site with end products of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and DPK littered on ground”.
The following exhibits were recovered at the crime scene: Large quantities of already syphoned stolen crude oil packaged in Cellophane Bags and Kegs, Materials used for refining crude oil illegally, Galvanised metal pipes in numbers, abandoned clothing and other personal effects, metal buckets amongst others were all uncovered and dismantled.
The CG however called on the public to continue giving the Corps credible intelligence even as he promised that the suspects would be caught and be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted accordingly.
