NSCDC to name and shame them in push against economic saboteurs
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Pipeline vandal sponsors are to face the law with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) saying it has their data and plans to name and shame them for their involvement in illegal refineries and other criminal ventures.
Delta NSCDC Command spokesman Emeka Okwechime, who made the announcement in Asaba, said the agency has the names of influential Nigerians behind the activities.
The Nigeria Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) estimated stolen crude oil at $3.27 billion as of April 2022, despite a reduction in theft.
Okwechime said the large volume of vandalised crude oil announced by regulatory agencies and the money lost would have more than doubled but for efforts of NSDC Commandant General Abubakar Ahmed and Delta Commandant Akinsanya Abiodun.
He insisted that their fight against pipeline vandalism has drastically reduced criminal activities in the Niger Delta.
“This is an addition to recent arrests of some suspects and the inauguration of Commandant General Special Intelligence Squad, which brought sanity to the oil-rich region,” he said.
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Clamp down on illegal oil facilities
Okwechime disclosed that the NSCDC has clamped down on illegal oil dumpsites, destroying artisanal refineries and impounding trucks conveying products.
He said the suspects disclosed the identities of their sponsors as well as those behind oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal refineries, economic sabotage, and a host of other socioeconomic crimes, who would soon be exposed to deter others.
In his view, the equipment and technical know-how employed in the criminal acts can only be afforded by the rich in society, per The Guardian (Nigeria).
Okwechime insisted the NSCDC will publish the names disclosed in the confessional statements made by the suspects who listed high profiled personalities, relatives, respected leaders, and retired and serving security personnel.
“But we are still gathering sufficient and substantial evidence before going ahead to publish the names of those sponsoring, aiding and abetting crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal refineries, illegally dealing in petroleum products and economic sabotage in the region,” he said.