NSCDC arrests over 400 suspected oil thieves, burns 50 illegal refineries

No fewer than 400 suspected oil thieves have been arrested nationwide by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) so far.

The NSCDC Commandant General (CG), Ahmed Audi, disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja.

He said, “We have arrested over 400 suspects that were found vandalizing our pipelines and some were found transporting vandalized crude oil, we have closed down and burnt over 50 illegally refineries.”

Audi said that the incidences of oil theft remained very alarming and of great concern to government and good citizens of the country, stressing that the Corps still require advance security gadgets to apprehend and monitor the activities of oil thieves in pipeline areas across the country.

“We have recently commissioned some number of gunboats and the gunboats have in it some very high calibre security gadgets to be used to monitor and apprehend these oil thieves.

“We also recently commissioned a number of operational vehicles at which I also made it clear that we have installed in them some very sensitive security gadgets that will give us information.

“This will give us information on how our personnel will monitor the pipelines with a view to arresting and prosecuting,” he said.

He assured that the NSCDC would remain committed to the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure in line with its mandate, including oil pipelines.

Audi said, “We are all aware that till today the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy is still oil, it’s only recently the government decided to diversify to other sectors like agriculture, minerals etc.“ NAN