With the launch of the state-of-the-art gunboat, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps’ Akwa Ibom State command has declared war on oil thieves in the state.
In Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of the state, the gunboat was launched on September 22, 2022, in front of representatives of the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Police, Directorate of State, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Correction Service, and Federal Road Safety Corps.
This information was provided to newsmen in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, in a statement released by the command’s public relations officer, DSC Ekerete, on Friday.
Speaking at the launch, the Commandant, Suleiman Mafara, bemoaned the alarming statistics of oil theft in the Niger-delta region, which he noted is carried out on an industrial scale. He added that with the launch of the gunboat, command personnel can now combat the threat both on land and in the water.
The statement reads in part, “These acts of economic sabotage by daredevil criminals and enemies of the state take place in creeks, tributaries, inlets and rivers where they siphon crude oil from pipelines through illegal plugins, and send to illegal refineries.
“With this gunboat and in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy and Marine Police, activities of vandals in Akwa Ibom State waterways can be checked.
“The import of this launch is enormous, as the reduction in oil theft occasioned by this war is tantamount to increase in revenue for Ikot Abasi LGA, Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria.”
The NSCDC boss pleaded for cooperation from sister security agencies, the traditional institution, the Local Government Chairman, and the good people of Akwa Ibom State while warning the youths to look for legal work because the command has declared full-scale war.
The ability of his team to effectively combat all forms of illegality in the oil and gas sector, including illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, oil theft, illegal refining of petroleum products, adulteration, etc., has been improved both on land and in water, according to CSC Sunday Edem, head of the state’s anti-vandal squad.
In his remarks, Mr. Joshua Affia, Executive Chairman of Ikot Abasi LGA, praised the gunboat launch as a substantial improvement to the security system of the riverine neighborhood with the capacity to ensure the protection of people and property on the waterways.
The gunboat would add to the already present security and patrol the waterways in Akwa Ibom State from Ikot Abasi to Eket and Oron.
