Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has launched what it termed as ‘Operation No Mercy’ on oil thieves perpetrating havoc on the nation’s economy, with their illegal activities of bunkering and refining of fuel in the over 33,000 creeks in the oil producing states.
While declaring that there would be no more hiding place for oil thieves and pipeline vandals operating illegal refining sites across the country, the commandant- general, Dr Abubakar Ahmed Audi, disclosed that his men were already combing the creeks to prevent further activities of the saboteurs.
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Audi who vowed to continue to make life unbearable for oil thieves in the Niger Delta and the country at large said the mop-up was aimed at ending the colossal damage done to the environment by activities of the oil thieves, who he said had been puncturing pipelines to obtain crude oil illegally.
The NSCDC boss announced that to sustain the fighting tempo against oil thieves, newly graduated 10,000 personnel trained in weapon handling and special tactics within the past two years would be deployed for the result.
Addressing the graduates, Dr Audi said; “You must do your best to reduce and if possible eliminate oil theft totally. We must arrest oil thieves. We shall go after them and bring them to book. We have made strong statements that vandals should relocate to other countries because they are going to have a hard time with the NSCDC.”
On the achievements of the corps within the past two years, Audi said, “Aside the training of over 10,000 officers and men in arms and weapon handling, other specialized areas have been created and keenly nurtured such as the CGs Intelligence squad, CGs Antivandal squad, CGs Marine squad, RRS, Female squad, Crack squad and the most recently, the Safe School Initiative saddled with the responsibility of safe-guarding our schools from outlaws.”
The Civil Defence boss added that the corps has developed a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for itself, adding that he has also been able to establish training schools in Nasarawa, Enugu and Jos.
Fielding questions on the issue of promotion backlogs especially as it affects the 2010 and 2012 sets, the NSCDC boss said the issue was being handled to the best of his ability.
He said; “We came and met a backlog of promotion arrears but as of today, we are no longer owing. We are aware that we have some of our personnel who belong to 2012 and 2010 sets but we are working on it because it is an inherited problem which we are dealing with.
“We have tried to elevate some of them based on available vacancies given to us from the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, OHCSF too. Promotion is done based on vacancies and federal character. So, I will appeal to them to be patient.”