Within a year, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps agents demolished 50 illegal refineries, captured 300 trucks, and detained 200 suspects.
This was said by the corps’ Commandant General, Ahmed Audi, in an interactive session with journalists at a meeting with state commandants and the leaders of the NSCDC’s anti-vandalism units on Friday at the Corps Headquarters in Abuja.
Audi said, “The civil defence has been living up to expectations. 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 is on the rise but we are on it and that is why we scheduled the meeting to proffer solutions to resolve the menace.’’
Audi added that the president had ordered the immediate implementation of policies to checkmate crime and eradicate cases of oil theft, bunkering, pipeline vandalism, and other critical national assets. Audi also noted that the Federal Government was concerned about the recent wave of oil theft across the nation.
Urging operatives of the corps to carry out their duties properly, he noted that anyone found culpable would be sanctioned.
He stated, “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.’’