Illegal oil dealings: NSCDC collaborates with Nigerian Navy in Rivers

Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State Command, said the fight against criminalities and illegal oil dealings in the State has taken a new shape.

Speaking at the Command Headquarters of the Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder during a strategic meeting with the Navy Service Commander in Rivers State, the NSCDC State Commandant, Michael Besong Ogar said the meeting was premised on the need to cement the long term existing relationship with the Nigerian Navy who remains a critical partner in the fight against illegal dealings in petroleum products across the Coastal Region.

Commandant Ogar noted that from the series of arrests made by the Command and cases handed over for prosecution by the NNS Pathfinder, the NSCDC Rivers State Command through her Legal Department has gotten forfeitures of 39 Boats and proceeds remitted to the Federal Government coffers.

He also affirmed that 11 Suspects have been convicted for illegal oil bunkering activities, vandalism of oil pipelines, conspiracy, economic sabotage while 30 suspects are currently being arraigned in Court.

While extolling the outstanding role of the Nigerian Navy and the level of relationship with the NSCDC, Commandant Michael Ogar solicited for a more robust Synergy most especially in the areas of training and re-training of Personnel, sharing of intelligence before, during and after tactical operations to enhance the war against criminal minded persons sabotaging the Nation’s economy through illegal oil bunkering activities in Rivers State.

In his response the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder Port Harcourt, Commodore SD Ibrahim called for a concerted effort by the Security Agencies and all critical stakeholders in the fight against illegal oil bunkering in Rivers State, which he said had overtime erupted into environmental degradation, health hazards and pollution of the marine life.

He maintained that the war against vandals would not be limited to arrests of suspects on the waterways alone but also extended to their sponsors and would- be- buyers of the products, noting that with thorough investigation the prosecuting agencies must dig deep into such cases to unravel the numerous actors behind the crime.

The Commander NNS PATHFINDER affirmed that his Command would give maximum support to the NSCDC Rivers State Command in capacity building for effective service delivery, Intelligence gathering, Joint operations and unrelenting war against pipeline vandalism in order to rid the Nation’s economy of saboteurs.