Operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have arrested no fewer than 200 suspects, destroyed 50 illegal refineries, and recovered 300 trucks within a year.
The Commandant General of the Corps, Ahmed Audi, stated this during an interactive session with newsmen at a strategic meeting with State Commandants and heads of anti-vandal units of the NSCDC, at the Corps Headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
Audi said, “The civil defence has been living up to expectation, we have so far within one year of my administration, arrested 200 suspects, recovered 300 trucks, and destroyed 50 illegal refineries.
“Oil theft and illegal bunkering are on the rise but we are on it and that is why we scheduled the meeting to proffer solutions to resolve the menace.”
Audi also noted that the federal government is worried about the spate of oil theft across the country, adding that the president has ordered immediate implementation of policies to checkmate crime and eradicate incidences of oil theft, bunkering, and vandalisation of oil pipelines and other critical national assets.
While urging operatives of the Corps to carry out their duties properly, he noted that anyone found culpable would be sanctioned.
“There are indications that some of the anti-vandal units in some state commands have been found wanting in discharging their duties. We are getting reports of compromise. We have instituted a panel of inquiry and anybody who is found culpable will be severely sanctioned.
“Let me sound this note of warning that the Corps has no place for mediocrity. Laziness, nonchalance, incompetence, and will therefore not hesitate to take appropriate dealing or action with any officer found wanting no matter his position.
“You are to therefore go back to your various State command and redouble your effort to reinvigorate, re-engineer, restructure, reposition your various anti-vandal squads,” Audi added.
