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Oil Theft: NSCDC Dissolves Anti-Vandals Team Nationwide

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has dissolved all anti-vandal teams nationwide.

NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Audi, said the dissolution was part of the reorganisation efforts of the Corps and a way of redeeming the image of the service.

He added that investigation was still ongoing on the issue of extortion of members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) by personnel of the service.

Recall, IPMAN had earlier accused some members of the corps in some parts of the country, of aiding and abetting vandals and oil thieves to carry out illegal activities in the state.

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The extortion according to them is ongoing despite the disbandment of the anti-vandal unit of the Rivers State Command of the Corps.

Also, the State Governor, Nyesom Wike, had accused personnel of the Corps of aiding and abetting vandals and oil thieves to carry out illegal activities in the state, leading to the subsequent suspension of the leader of the anti-vandal team and the disbandment of the unit.

The dissolution, Audi emphasised, is a way to checkmate the alleged connivance of certain bad eggs in the system with non-state actors.

Dr. Audi further stressed that there was a need to reconstitute the units, so as to introduce fresh blood and do away with security operatives, who may be accomplices in the act.

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“We have made it very clear, that henceforth, we are going to hold commandants responsible for any breach in their various states, especially in the area of vandalism.

“In view of that, we have received reports, therefore, the minister has approved the reorganisation of a department in the corps, known as anti-vandalism.

“You are to note that all anti-vandal teams nationwide are hereby dissolved and all road blocks mounted by such individuals should be immediately dismantled.

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“The minister has also approved the reorganisation of the anti-vandal team and he directed further that the anti-vandal team will be reconstituted in due course.

“The Federal Government is showing so much concern on the issue of oil theft and the corps is saddled with the protection of pipelines.

“There are insinuations that security agencies are involved as accomplices. Because we want to redeem the image of the service, our officers are doing their jobs but not to satisfaction, hence, the call by the minister for the reorganisation of the teams”, Audi stated.

IFRAME SYNC

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