NSCDC Arraigns 30 Suspects, Convicts 11 For Oil Theft, Sabotage

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has arrested and arraigned 30 persons in court and also convicted 11 others on offences bothering on illegal dealings in petroleum products and economic sabotage.
The NSCDC commandant, Rivers State, Mr Michael Ogar, made the revelation at a strategic meeting between the Corps and the Nigeria Navy Ship Pathfinder, at the latter’s headquarters in Port Harcourt at the weekend.
He pointed out that the meeting was anchored on the need to foster the age long relationship between the two sister agencies.
The areas of concern, he said, included intelligence sharing, before, during and after tactical operations.
“The meeting is premised on the need to cement the long term existing relationship with the Nigerian Navy which remains a critical partner in the fight against illegal dealings in petroleum products across the coastal region”, he said.
Ogar solicited for more robust synergy between the two sister agencies especially in the areas of intelligence sharing, and training and retraining of personnel.
Also speaking, the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, Commodore S.D. Ibrahim, urged for more concerted efforts by security agencies and all critical stakeholders in the fight against illegal oil bunkering and other crimes.
Ibrahim noted that the menace of illegal transactions had over time erupted into environmental degradation, health hazards and pollution of aquatic life.
To increase the tempo of fight against crime and vandals, he said that the war would henceforth be extended to sponsors of criminals.
He reassured the NSCDC of maximum support in the areas of capacity building for effective service delivery, intelligence gathering among others.

By: King Onunwor