In her drive to curtail the
activities of vandals in the Niger Delta area and its environs, the Nigeria
Security and Civil Defence Corps is to release Hilux Vehicles to her personnel
involved in the Joint Task Force (JTF)
operation in the Niger Delta.
This release became
necessary to encourage and enhance the effective pursuit of the Corps mandate
in the Protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure as it concerns
the Oil and Gas Sector.
The Commandant General of
the Corps Dr. Ade Abolurin states that, the Corps is bent in ensuring zero
tolerance to vandalism and oil theft in all sectors and the only way the battle
can be won is by empowering the foot solders by equipping them with all
necessary equipment.
He further reiterates that,
recently the Federal Government through the Office of the National Security
Adviser Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki released surveillance vehicles with state of
the art facilities to the Corps for the purpose of monitoring, tracking of
vandals and protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure; the
gesture, according to him, is to be replicated with the vehicles that are to be
released for the same purposes to the JTF personnel.
Similarly, the surveillance
vehicles received by the Corps were deployed to National Assembly, Niger-Delta
Power Holding Company, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and Ministry of
Power for effective policing and protection of the Nation’s infrastructure.
Also, the Corps released
one vehicle each to operatives working with NIMASA, Anti-Vandal Squad, Special
Force Unit, Operations Unit and an ambulance bus each to the Disaster
Management Department of the Headquaters, FCT Command and the Civil Defence
Academy, Sauka Abuja for the purpose of equipping the various units and
departments to carryout their duties without hitches in the area of mobility.
Abolurin therefore stresses
that vandals and illegal bunkers have no hiding place any more as the Corps has
declared total war against those involved in vandalism and their cronies.
Vandalism and oil theft is
evil and any one involved in such nefarious activities is a saboteur and enemy
of the Nation, therefore such a person does not deserve to live in this
country.
The Corps Executive is
agitating for a stiffer punishment for anyone caught in the act of vandalism
and oil theft considering its prevalent and precautious nature.
He assures the Federal
Government of the Corps readiness, commitment, focus and determination in their
crusade and fight against the scourge of vandalism in all its ramifications.
He advises parents to warn
their wards to desist from every act of criminality that can endanger their
lives and put the family name to shame as the law of the Federation is no
respecter of anyone; therefore, any one caught will be dealt with decisively in
accordance with the law.
Abolurin appreciates the
various Joint Task Force (JTF) commanders for their co-operation as well as the
Nigeria Navy for their arrests on the high seas and the subsequent handing over
to the Corps for prosecution.
Equally, he commended the
efforts of the Department of State Security Services for their collaboration in
arresting vandals of PHCN cables and telecommunication installations,
interception of illegal diversion of tankerss containing petroleum products as
well as those with vandalized products which were handed over to the Corps for
prosecution.
In the light of the above,
Abolurin states that if all stakeholders should realize that the battle against
vandalism is not a fight for one agency alone but a collective one, vandals
according to him, will change their trade or relocate out of the country. What
is required is synergy, collaboration and partnership at all levels to flush
out vandals and oil thieves for the Nation to be free of saboteurs and
meaningful development in all sectors of the economy to take place.
CSC OKEH, EMMANUEL O.
CDPRO
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