Rivers
NSCDC Moves To Strengthen Waterways Against Oil Theft
The Marine Unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Rivers State Command on Monday foiled the operations of owners of local refineries in Cawthome Channel One,in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Addressing newsmen after the operations in Degema, the spokesperson of the Command, Superintendent Olufemi Ayodele said the NSCDC Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi has zero tolerance for all acts of economic sabotage, hence, has directed the state command led by Commandant Basil Igwebueze to step up Intelligence gathering and protection of all national critical assets and Infrastructure both on land and the waterways.
Olufemi disclosed that the success of the Marine Unit was hinged on credible intelligence that some suspects were carrying out illegal oil bunkering activities at Cawthome Channel in Damakiri Area, having vandalised Sahara Oil Well Heads and pipes,adding that the oil bunkerers went further to syphon crude oil and established a local refining site in the area.
“With full determination to combat the menace of illegal oil bunkering activities on the waterways, the Marine Unit swung into action by taking charge of the environment”.
“Notably, the suspects took to their heels upon sighting the marine operatives”
According to him, the command in furtherance to this fight ordered massive destruction of all materials used in carrying out the illegal oil bunkering and added that over four different refining stations had been destroyed altogether.
“To ensure that the suspects do not reconstruct the local refinery, the NSCDC marine personnel had also been directed to intensify patrol in the area.”
“Our commitment to ensure that Rivers State is a safe haven for the dwellers remains firm and most importantly our nation must be salvaged from economic saboteurs who are milking on the wealth and resources of the country”. “The command will not relent in its collaboration with all sister security agencies in order to fight to stand still the activities of illegal oil bunkerers in Rivers State”.
“In addition, we hereby appeal to the public to continue giving us actionable information that would lead to the arrests of criminal-minded persons even as we assure our informants of overall protection and secrecy of any given information”