Dr Ahmed Audi, Commandant General (CG) of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has described the level of pipeline vandalism in Niger Delta as massive, devastating and sad.
Audi who featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja, said that in spite of the situation, the Corps has remained committed to tackling the problem.
Audi said that the Corps had arrested and prosecuted many of the pipeline vandals.
“I had a tour last month to pipeline locations especially in Niger Delta, it is very sad, very, very sad and very devastating.
“If you see the amount of vandalism where you will see people go inside the river, sea and puncture pipes.
“I don’t know how they do it, I don’t know whether they have divers who go inside, puncture a pipe, use a valve, dig a hole and then they will connect the pipe to a house that is close to the river and begin to take the fuel,” he said.
Audi assured that the Corps has been tracking and arresting such vandals and economic saboteurs to insulate the nation’s economy.
He added that the NSCDC had also turned the search lights on its personnel who may have compromised in the course of discharging their responsibilities to the country.
The CG assured that any of the personnel found culpable would be dealt with decisively
“Anybody no matter how highly placed, no matter his level or rank that is involved in colluding or conniving or in some form of compromise with oil thieves would be severely sanctioned,” Audi assured.
The NSCDC boss, however, said that the Corps was in need of new technologies to tackle the level of pipeline vandalism and other criminal activities in the country.
“We have realized globally now that what is used to tackle insecurity is technology. It is easier when you have technology.
“So, it is a challenge now in the Corps that we don’t have enough, of course you can never have enough, so we want to plead with the government just like Oliver Twist for more,” he said.
He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the new equipment and operational vehicles recently supplied to enhance operational efficiency in the Corps.
