The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has expressed concern about the rising number of cases of oil theft and illegal bunkering, as well as their negative impact on the Nigerian economy.
Dr Ahmed Audi, Commandant General of the NSCDC, has, however, warned agency personnel not to compromise in their performance of duty.
Audi expressed his displeasure with the attitude of some NSCDC officers, alleging that they colluded with vandals and oil thieves, and promised that any official found guilty would be adequately punished.
A statement on Saturday by the corps’ Director of Public Relations, Olusola Odumosu, partly read, “This step became necessary to reverse the ugly trend and gave a marching order to all concerned officials, of the corps to buckle down and ensure that the needful is done to halt oil theft without further delay.
“We are aware that as far as the nation is concerned, oil is the mainstay of the economy and the massive oil theft and illegal bunkering in the country is alarming. The Commandant General tasked the officers to check their excesses, and inappropriate behaviours and warned that his administration will not condone any form of compromise or unethical behaviours, from personnel deployed to prevent oil theft and illegal bunkering.”