NSCDC arrests 15 oil thieves in Bayelsa

Officials of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps at the scene of a pipeline inferno at Ijeododo in Ijegun, Lagos.

OFFICIALS of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps have arrested 15 suspected oil thieves in Bayelsa State.

The command also impounded five trucks, three tankers and seven speedboats.

The state NSCDC commandant, Mr. Desmond Agwu, told our corespondent on Tuesday that the suspects were apprehended for pipeline vandalism and other related criminal oil deals.

Agwu noted that cases of seven of the suspects were already in court, while others were still undergoing preliminary investigations.

He said, “My men are patrolling the sea and we have maintained zero-tolerance to pipeline vandalism and oil theft. There is no hiding place for oil thieves.”

Advising oil thieves to look for genuine business, Agwu said the command would continue to collaborate with other security agencies in the state, especially the Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, to tackle the menace.

He said 60 of his operatives had been drafted to the state security outfit, codenamed Operation Door-Akpor, to assist the government in maintaining internal security.

He, however, called for logistics support, adding that the command needed speedboats and operational vehicles.

He said, “It is a fact that a student without writing materials cannot do anything in the class. So, we need vehicles and patrol boats to achieve our mandates.”