Sets up marshall unit to guard 1,975 illegal mining sites

Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, (NSCDC), has said that 1, 421 suspects have been arrested and 488 convicted for various acts of vandalization including oil theft, in the last three years.

Commandant General, NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Audi, made this known at the 2024 celebration of the World Civil Defense Day, weekend in Abuja.

He said the Corps has intensified patrol, monitoring, surveillance and emplaced adequate security measures to ensure protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, (CNAI), in all its formations across the Country including the Federal Capital Territory to prevent violent attacks, willful damage, vandalization and sabotage.

“The Corps’ Anti-Vandal Squad and the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad has continued to wage relentless war against vandals of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure and oil thieves among others.

“The sudden upsurge in the vandalization of railway tracks and sleepers is also being criticaly addressed as the Corps has begun an onslaught on these criminal elements/economic saboteurs. This renewed war has led to several arrests and seizures in the past one year.”

Audi, who is also celebrating three years as CG, said “part of the achievements recorded from March, 2021 to date include
1,421 arrests, 933 prosecutions, 488 convictions and 233 destroyed illegal refineries.”

He revealed that between January and February 2024 alone, the Corps has made significant impact in the war against vandalization and oil theft where over 57 suspects have been arrested. A greater percentage of the arrested vandals are those involved in the vandalization of railway tracks and sleepers.

Stressing the importance of interagency collaboration to tackle insecurity, he said “On 11th January, 2024 at about 0057hrs, the Corps in conjunction with the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited also arrested a vessel, MT KALI suspected to have been involved in oil theft at the sea in Beneti, Bayelsa State.

“The Vessel was arrested with about 119 metric tons of crude oil already loaded. Twelve (12) crew members and eleven (11) community members on board were arrested and are undergoing investigation.”

Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo who commissioned the new mining marshall unit of the agency, tasked personnel to brace up to perform the constitutional role of the agency.

He said “I have not come here to commend you but rather to tell you to brace up as there is much more that needed to be done.”

He pointed that the constitution is clear on the role of the Corps which is to secure the nation’s critical infrastructure but stressed the importance of collaboration between all security apparatus in the country to stem the tide of insecurity.

The minister pointed to distinct roles in the constitution for both the Nigeria Police Force and the NSCDC and that there was no reason for a clash in roles.

According to him, members of Civil Defence Corps have no reason to perform the role of the police as they have a duty to ensure that the nation’s oil pipelines are not vandalized and oil theft is a thing of the past.

He equally said they have the duty of ensuring that a stop is put to illegal mining and that lives and property at mining sites are protection.

Dr. Tunji-Ojo adds that though they have done so much but much more need to be done in ensuring that Nigeria’s natural resources is not stolen by vandals and that public infrastructure are protected.

“I have not come here to commend you but rather to tell you to brace up as there is much more that needed to be done,” he said.