‘Oil bunkering’: NSCDC reconstitutes Rivers anti-vandal unit

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has reconstituted its anti-vandal unit in Rivers, after it was disbanded over allegations of officers’ involvement in illegal oil bunkering.

Following claims by Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, that an officer in the unit was aiding vandals to carry out illegal activities in the state, NSCDC had ordered an immediate disbandment of the unit.

In a statement on Monday, Olusola Odumosu, NSCDC spokesman, said Ahmed Audi, the NSCDC commandant-general, had deployed an investigative committee to examine the allegations raised by the governor. 

He said following the report of the committee, a new unit head has been appointed, while the NSCDC commandant for Rivers has been redeployed.

“The committee which conducted an on-the-spot assessment of different locations in Rivers state, including the NSCDC jetty and the exhibit yard where all impounded oil tankers, drums of illegally refined products, barges and boats were kept while awaiting court judgement, was headed by acting DCG operations, Mohammed Lawal Haruna, from the national headquarters, Abuja,” the statement reads.

“The CG decried the action of some bad eggs within the corps in various formations and gave stern warning to all heads of anti-vandal units to refrain from any form of compromise, charging them to be more committed, purposeful and patriotic in fulfilling the mandates of the corps without prejudice.

“Henceforth, a telescopic monitoring would be launched on the activities of the anti-vandal squads in all formations and anyone not living up to expectation would be shown the way out immediately. 

“In a transparent move to ensure greater efficiency in the frontline of the corps’ anti-vandalism campaign in Rivers state, which is the epicentre of oil exploration activities, the corps helmsman methodically rejigged the command by removing the former head of the anti-vandal unit who is from the north central and replaced him with a new head from south-east.

“The state commandant has also been replaced with a new commandant from the north-west while the zonal commander hails from the south-south.

“I have charged the new commandant and the newly reconstituted anti-vandal unit to launch a total war against petroleum pipeline vandals, illegal oil bunkerers and all economic saboteurs by dislodging vandals, arresting oil thieves and dismantling all illegal refineries and road blocks.

“Any attempt to delay immediate prosecution of arrested suspects is tantamount to compromise and any personnel caught collecting settlement or tampering with impounded tankers, petroleum products and other exhibits would be sanctioned and dealt with decisively according to the Standard Operating Procedures and Code of Ethics of the Corps.”