In
a drive to stem the tide of vandalism, illegal refineries, oil theft,
and illegal bunkering, the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and
Civil Defence Corps Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu has set up a Special Task
to clampdown on saboteurs.
This is in line with the Corps mandate in the protection of critical infrastructure and National Assets.
The
Corps helms man while charging the Special Task Force on their
responsibilities in tracking down vandals and operatives of illegal
refineries, also directed the State Commandants to cooperate and work in
synergy with the Commandant General’s Special Task Force assigned to
their states for the Special operation in clamping down on illegal
dealers on petroleum products, vandals, illegal refineries, illegal
bunkering, Marketers involved in diversion of petroleum products. The
operation also extends to filling stations selling above approved
Government pump price, hoarding of products, those involved in black
marketing and racketeering as well as other related crimes for
prosecution in line with the Law of the federation.
To
further buttress the need for the Special Task Force, Abdullahi
stressed that , the Corps as at December 2015, have identified and
destroyed over 200 illegal Refineries in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Edo,
Kogi, Ondo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom States among others and over 120
suspects involved in the act of vandalism and other associated crimes
have been prosecuted and sentenced to various prisons terms by the High
Courts in their respective States.
He
also reiterated that, about 250 suspects are still undergoing
prosecution in various States High Court with over 80 trucks containing
petroleum products impounded with several operational equipment
belonging to suspected vandals recovered.
Abdullahi
therefore charged the Task Force and other operational officers to live
up to expectation by justifying the confidence the Government and the
people have for the Corps by ensuring that vandalism is reduced to the
barest minimum by deploying all necessary mechanisms to check mate the
illicit act.
In the same vein, the Corps Chief
Executive assured the Government of the Corps readiness to tackle
vandalism and other illicit crimes in line with the Corps Mandate in the
Protection of Critical Infrastructure and National Asset in all
ramifications by deploying all necessary arsenal to monitor and to clamp
down on decedents.
According to Abdullahi,
‘‘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. We
will not rest on oax until the battle it’s all over ’’.
He
therefore seized the opportunity to appreciate all other Securities
Agencies and the stakeholders especially the Armed Forces, JTF for their
alloyed support and assistance in assisting the Corps in prosecuting
the War against Vandalism.
However, the
Commandant General is using the medium to warmly thank the Chief of
Naval Staff for the support, synergy and good working relationship in
acknowledging the mandate of the Corps as the lead agency in the
protection of critical Infrastructure and National Assets by arresting
and handing over of suspects and vessels to the Corps for prosecution.
Abdullahi
warned those still in the business of vandalism to desist or relocate
from the Nation as the Corps will deal decisively with anyone caught
whose act is inimical to the State.
ACC Emmanuel Okeh
CDPRO
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