To put an end to the menace of oil theft in the country, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has dimissed its anti-vandal units nationwide.
In a statement signed and issued to newsmen by the NSCDC spokesman, National Headquarters Abuja, DCC. Olusola Odumosu, the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has declared that the dissolution follows the approval of the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who approved the measure to reposition the corps for better service delivery.
He also directed that all illegal roadblocks mounted by the Anti vandal unit across the nation be dismantled with immediate effect.
“In view of the recent developments in some states and the unsatisfactory performance of the unit in the past few months, there is a need to sanitise and bring fresh zeal to the operations of the unit.
“The Minister has also directed the immediate reconstitution of the Anti-vandal unit nationwide and we are going to do that without delay,” the CG explained.
The Commandant General said the federal government has expressed serious displeasure on the issue of oil theft which requires drastic measures by the Corps in order to protect the major revenue base of the country.
He decried the insinuations in some quarters that security agencies are accomplices in oil theft, warning that NSCDC will not hesitate in using its internal disciplinary mechanisms to sanction any personnel found sabotaging government’s efforts.
“The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence will not condone unethical practices, misconduct or misbehaviour,” Audi strongly warned.
The Commandant General further explained that adequate modalities have been put in place to avoid loopholes and warned perpetrators of such economic crimes like illegal bunkering and vandalism of pipelines to desist from it, assuring that reconstitution of new Anti-vandal teams will not exceed one week.