Following allegations of compromise and subsequent dissolution of its anti-vandal squads nationwide, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), has reconstituted new anti-vandal teams across its formations.
Announcing the reconstitution of the squads via a communique, the Commandant General of the corps, Dr Ahmed Audi said the new squads are repositioned for the effective safeguarding of national assets especially petroleum pipelines and other oil installations.
In the communique signed by the corps’ Public Relations Officer, (PRO), Olusola Odumosu, Audi noted that the reconstitution of the teams became necessary to purge corrupt elements and put a stop to “all forms of sabotage in the oil sector through arrests and diligent prosecution of oil thieves, their sponsors and all those dealing illegally in Petroleum products.”
According to him, “the reconstitution of the reformed Anti-vandal unit with fresh blood who have a new zeal for success is central and Germaine to our Core mandates.
“The Nation is losing a lot of revenues to illegal oil merchants and this has a debilitating effect on the economy.”
Commending the state commandants for the prompt response to the order of the federal government through the minister of interior, Rauf Aregbesola, for the dissolution and reconstitution of the teams, Dr Audi urged them to deploy all machinery at their disposal towards carrying out their mandate.
“I commend your swift and timely compliance which has closed all perceived gaps and loopholes that may have been created in the fight against theft and illegal oil bunkering across the board.
“I, therefore, charge you to remain firm, focused and fierce with the enemies of the nation who has vowed to continue sabotaging our economy”.
“I have distributed the newly acquired gunboats to you for the purpose of waging war against the enemies of our commonwealth.
“There is no excuse for failure anymore, I want to see you put a stop to revenue loss through illegal oil activities in the nation”, Audi charged.
