The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Delta State Command, has intensified its clampdown on vandals and related offenders, recording 28 arrests involving over 55 suspects since January 2024.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Anthony Uchenna, disclosed the figures to The Guardian in Asaba, yesterday, noting that the arrests were part of sustained efforts to protect critical national assets and infrastructure across the state.

According to him, the crackdown has begun to yield judicial results, with six convictions already secured in courts of competent jurisdiction.

He added that about 10 cases are currently ongoing in various courts, while several others remain under active investigation.

Uchenna expressed concern over the persistent targeting of key oil and gas installations, revealing that facilities operated by AGIP—now under Oando—in Opa, Kwale, as well as another Oando installation in Okuagbe, had been vandalised within the review period.

He further disclosed that a facility belonging to Shell in Escravos, one of Nigeria’s major oil hubs, was also attacked by vandals.

Beyond the oil sector, the NSCDC spokesperson highlighted repeated assaults on power infrastructure, particularly the vandalisation of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) towers in Warri, which were attacked twice within the period under review.

Telecommunications infrastructure has also come under threat, with vandals targeting a base station opposite the Federal College of Education in Asaba and stealing a 30KVA generator from a telecom site in Ogwashi-Uku.

Uchenna, while describing the trend as worrisome, stressed that vandalism of public infrastructure poses a significant threat to economic stability, public safety, and service delivery in the state.

He, however, noted that the Command had not only focused on enforcement but also embraced non-violent conflict resolution mechanisms.

Uchenna said that several disputes, including farmer-herder clashes and domestic violence cases, had been successfully resolved through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), while others are still undergoing the process.

He, therefore, reiterated the Command’s commitment to safeguarding critical infrastructure and called on residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information that could aid security agencies in curbing criminal activities across the state.