NSCDC arrests 69 oil thieves, vandals in Akwa Ibom in four months

Akwa Ibom State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said it has arrested 69 oil thieves and vandals within the first quarter of 2022.
   
The State Commandant, Mr. Abidemi Majekodunmi, disclosed this yesterday while fielding questions from newsmen in his office in Uyo.

“In the first quarter of the year, we placed significant emphasis on the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure.
 

“What we have done is to ensure that we deploy intelligence, capital and assets to make sure that we do activities that serve as a deterrent to these non-state actors, who were always eager to steal petroleum products.

“When we get quality intelligence, we plan and execute operations to make arrests. We also have, currently, about seven boats. In that particular case, we have 69 suspects, illegal dealers in petroleum products.”

“They have been charged to court and of course, we have made investigations and done a profiling, so those cases are currently in Court, for the Court to do the appropriate adjudication.”
   
The state commandant called on communities with critical government infrastructure to see the infrastructure as their own and protect them against vandalism.
   
He said the Civil Defence must continue to promote crisis management and be proactive in dealing with conflict situations in the state through peace and conflict resolution.