Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigerian Navy and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, have agreed to partner in the fight against all forms of criminalities, paricularly oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering and refining activities in Rivers State.
The Navy warned the war against oil theft will not be limited to arrests of suspects on the waterways alone, but also extended to their sponsors and buyers of the adulterated products.
Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Pathfinder in Port Harcourt, Commodore S.D Ibrahim speaking during a strategic meeting with the NSCDC Commandant in Rivers State, urged the prosecuting agencies to carryout thorough investigation and dig deep into cases to unravel the numerous actors behind the crime.
Ibrahim also called for a concerted effort by all security agencies and 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 marine life.
He affirmed that NNS Pathfinder under his command would give maximum support to the NSCDC 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 from saboteurs.
Also, NSCDC State Commandant in Rivers State, Michael Besong Ogar, said the meeting was premised on the need to cement the long-term existing relationship with the Nigerian Navy, who accoridng to him, remains a critical partner in the fight against illegal dealings in petroleum products across the region.
Ogar noted that from the series of arrests made by the Command and cases handed over for prosecution by NNS Pathfinder, the NSCDC in Rivers State through its Legal Department, has gotten forfeitures of 39 boats and proceeds remitted to the Federal Government.
The Commandant 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.
He also solicited for a more robust synergy with the Navy, paricularly in the areas of training and re-training of personel, sharing of intelligence before, during and after tactical operations to enhance the war against criminal minded persons sabotaging the nation’s economy through oil theft.
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