The Delta State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has paraded 17suspects allegedly involved in sundry crimes, including pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft.

Also paraded were eight trucks/tankers allegedly used in illegal dealings in petroleum products.

Public Relations Officer of Delta State NSCDC, DSC Emeka Peters Okwechime, told newsmen at the state headquarters of the Command while parading the suspects that the Commandant-General's Special Intelligence Squad arrested some of the suspects at Ughelli area of the state while conveying products suspected to be illegally refined Automated Gasoline Oil (AGO) locally known as diesel, from Bayelsa State, en route Northern States.

He said that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

Okwechime said the Command has intensified efforts in hunting down pipeline vandals and oil thieves since the emergence of Dr Abubakar Audi Ahmed and Akinsanya Iskilu Abiodun as the Commandant-General and Delta State Commandant of NSCDC, respectively.

According to the PRO, pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, other forms of economic sabotage, among other social and economic crimes, have reduced drastically, especially in Delta State, since the duo assumed office.

Okwechime noted that pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, corruption and other forms of criminality have led to a sharp drop in the nation's Gross Domestic Products (GDP), high inflation rate of goods and services, resulting in economic challenges and the hardship faced presently in Nigeria.

While reassuring Deltans of the resilience and the continued commitment of the NSCDC in keeping faith with the civilian population, Okwechime maintained that the morale of the NSCDC to protect all critical government national assets and infrastructure have been rekindled by the Commandant-General's new welfare packages for the personnel and that of Commandant Akinsanya Iskilu Abiodun-led administration at the State Command level.

He appealed for quick disposal of cases involving NSCDC pending in various courts so that all impounded trucks would be evacuated from the premises of the Command.

He equally charged leaders and youths in the oil-rich region to report all cases of vandalism, crude oil theft, illegal dealings on petroleum products, as well as other social and economic crimes to any NSCDC office closer to them.

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