Heads Will Roll If Names Of Those Behind Crude Oil Theft, Pipeline Vandalism Are Published —NSCDC

By Daniel Dafe

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC has observed with pleasure the drastic reduction and significant drop in the nefarious activities of vandals in the country particularly in the Niger Delta Region.

According to NSCDC, this is attributed to the effective measures taken by the present leadership of the NSCDC both at National and State level, which members of the public could testify to.

The Spokesman, Delta State Command of the Corps, Dsc Emeka Peters Okwechime, who made this known in a statement noted that the development was an improvement on an earlier report by
the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) which stated that crude oil theft in 2021 reached about 200,000 barrels per day, which they pointed was a quarter of the total onshore production.

Also, the Nigeria Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) had estimated the cost of the volume of stolen crude oil at about $3.27 billion as at April 2022.

The large volume of vandalized crude oil announced by the regulatory commissions and the amount of money lost by the federal government would have doubled if not tripled but for the combatant and competent efforts of the gallant Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Dr Abubakar Audi Ahmed, PhD(mni) and the Delta State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Akinsanya Iskilu Abiodun who put up a stiff and sincere fight against the menace of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism thereby resulting in the reduction of the criminal activity.

Furthermore, NSCDC said In addition, the recently inaugurated Commandant General Special Intelligence Squad has brought sanity to the oil rich region.

“The unit in recent time has succeeded in clamping down on illegal oil dump sites, the destruction of artisanal refineries, while several trucks conveying the products have been impounded. Also some suspects have been arrested and undergoing prosecution.

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“This laudable and commendable milestone achievements is not unconnected with the Commandant General rising fame and his professional charisma and expertise, has been generating ripples of commendation in the Nation, particularly in the fight against insecurity of which the corps has regained it’s lost glory and it’s cooperate image well polished,” the statement added.

Dsc Emeka Peters posited that heads will roll, if the Corps decided to publish the names of those behind crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegally dealing in petroleum products, Economic Sabotage amongst others following preliminary investigation and confessional statements from suspects arrested.

Adding: “The suspects revealed some of the identities of their sponsors and those behind crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal refineries, economic sabotage and a host of other socio-economic crimes under the purview of the NSCDC, stressing they would be exposed publicly to serve as deterrent to others.”

The NSCDC mouthpiece maintained that the machines, equipment and technical known how employed in these barbaric act can’t be afforded by the commoners but traceable to the rich in the society.

He also disclosed that majority of the trucks, number plates, and suspects arrested, revealed or portray that these perpetrators of these evil act have insiders or collaborators which the State Commandant Akinsanya Iskilu is having sleepless nights to unravel the true identities and tangible evidence against them

The Public Relations Officer affirmed that the force was poised to publish the names of those behind the dastardly act, which as indicated from the confessional statements made by suspects contained names of high profiled personalities, respected leaders in the societies, even retired and serving uniform personnel and their relatives.

The statement indicated the Corps is still gathering sufficient and substantial evidence before it will go ahead to publish the names of those sponsoring, aiding and abetting crude oil theft, Pipeline vandalism, illegal refineries, illegally dealing in petroleum products and economic sabotage in the region.

It notes that the law would take its course when the names are published, especially against the law enforcement officers found wanting to discourage others from the evil act and sharp practices.