By Hauwa Ali
The Rivers State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Michael Ogar, has expressed readiness to comb high seas within its jurisdiction for crude oil thieves as NSCDC confirmed that it has arrested 69 suspects in Rivers State for illegal Oil Bunkering since January 2022; Amongst them are some 20, 19 and 16-year old suspects.
Ogar expressed the commitment while addressing journalists in his office recently at the Command Office in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
According to him, the Commandant General of the Corps, Abubakar Audi, should intensify efforts at prevailing on the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, to boost the capacity of the state command.
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He said the appeal followed the recent successes recorded by the recently reconstituted Anti-Vandal Unit of the Rivers State Command, adding that the Command is poised to move beyond the land and creeks in its renewed fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
The NSCDC state commandant stressed that it will not rest until illegal oil bunkering is stamped out of the state, saying the suspects will be charged to court and the petroleum products forfeited to the federal government.
Some of the items recovered from the suspects include vehicles, trucks laden with illegally refined petroleum products. And several exhibits from the illicit trade.
The NSCDC says it is worried that despite the continuous sensitization and ongoing war against vandalism and economic sabotage, many young people still in their productive years have insisted on living a life of crime.
