NSCDC boss inaugurates special squad to combat oil theft

Abdullahi Muhammadu, the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has inaugurated a special squad to tackle the incessant problem of oil theft.

The Commandant General revealed this development in a statement issued on Monday as part of efforts to curb pipeline vandalism and oil bunkering.

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The NSCDC boss also ordered the State Commandants to work closely with their team in their respective states in order to eradicate the menace of illegal refineries, oil theft, and illegal bunkering.

Abdullahi Muhammadu claimed that the duties of NSCDC also include fishing out filling stations that are hoarding petrol as well as those that sell the product above the approved pump price.

“We are an agency of government created to tackle this onerous task of fighting the scourge of vandalism, illegal bunkering, illegal refinery, oil theft, and other allied crimes. Therefore, we will continue to fight these illicit acts diligently in ensuring that the nation is rid of these obnoxious activity perpetrated by some few individuals that have posed as an ‘enemy of the state’ as a result of greed and selfishness,” the NSCDC boss said.

According to the Commandant General of NSCDC, as at December 2015, 200 illegal refineries were destroyed in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Edo, Kogi, Ondo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom States.

He also claimed that over 120 persons were tried and sentenced for pipeline vandalism and other related crimes. He added that at least 250 persons were being tried for stealing of petroleum products.