NSCDC arrests 70, convicts 7 vandals for pipeline vandalism

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Akwa Ibom Command, said on Sunday that it had arrested 70 suspected vandals and convicted seven of them between June and November.

The state Commandant of the Corps, Mr Emmanuel Ojeniyi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo.

Ojeniyi said that the seven persons were convicted for pipeline vandalism and adulteration of petroleum products.

He said that the command had 36 cases pending in court and expressed hope that it would secure more convictions from the cases.

“I want to say that within this short period, we have made 70 arrests and secured seven convictions and we still have 36 cases pending in court.

“We have also investigated 19 cases and will soon charge the suspects to court while 17 cases have been abandoned for lack of witnesses,” he said.

The corps commandant also said that during the period, the command impounded some trucks that were abandoned by the pipeline vandals when its personnel confronted them.

He expressed optimism that with such cooperation, oil theft, petroleum product adulteration and vandalism of electricity installations would effectively be curtailed in the state.

He said that the activities of the hoodlums had hindered the country’s economic growth and required the collective efforts of all citizens to eradicate the menace.

The commandant said that NSCDC was firmly committed to enforcing government policies and programmes in accordance with the law to deal with the problem.

He urged Akwa Ibom residents to regard security agents as their friends and volunteer useful information on the activities of criminals to the command for prompt action.