The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) say the agency has matched it words with action in the fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, among other mandates of the organisation.

The State Commandant of NSCDC, Akinsanya Iskilu Abiodun, posited that before now, illegal dealing on petroleum products, including illegal production and transportation of petroleum products to the detriment of the nation's economy was an all-comers affair.

Akilu said these nefarious activities engendered environmental pollution, health implications, climatic factors and the dangers posed to humans, animal and aquatic life.

The State Commandant disclosed this while receiving an award from a contingent from the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Senior Course 45 on Study Tour to the NSCDC State Commandant in his office at the State Head Quarters in Asaba, the Delta State Capital.

Presenting the award, Air Commodore BOC Ifeobu, the Team lead, stated that the NSCDC boss bagged the award for his selfless commitment and significant role in the security achitecture of the state, with sterling qualities worthy of emulation.

Abiodun further noted that the rate of crude oil theft, artisanal refineries and illegal dealings on petroleum products were on daily increase geometrically before now.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Dsc Emeka Peter Okwechime, stressed that the narrative of the petroleum sector, as at today, has changed for good. “It would be recalled that the NSCDC is the lead agency for the protection of all government critical national assets and infrastructure as enshrined in Section 2 and 3 of the NSCDC Act of 2003,” the statement added.

Okwechime further opined that section 3 subsection 1, 2 and 3 of the NSCDC Act 2007 as amended empowers the corps with the prosecutory powers against crude oil theft, thereby positioning the NSCDC as the only security agency with such jurisdiction to prosecute crude thieves.

“Few months back, the NSCDC State Commandant vowed to end crude oil theft on or before the end of December 2022, which necessitated the inauguration of Special Forces in the State christened the Commandant Tactical Squad (CTS), the Commandant Monitoring Team (CMT), and the Rejigged Anti-Vandal Squad (RAS),” the statement revealed.

The statement added that the achievements recorded so far was not unconnected with the robust synergy, cooperation and collaborations with other sister security agencies as created, maintained and sustained by the Commandant Abiodun-led administration.

“Today, as we speak, all the creeks have been tactically fumigated, vandals smoked out, new discoveries were made, water bodies saturated, vandals arrested and prosecuted, trucks, SUVs, and articulated vehicles impounded, adulterated products destroyed, dump sites busted, artisanal refineries destroyed by the Special Forces.

The menace of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, among others, has been curbed almost to zero level, if not totally eradicated.

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