The Federal Government has ordered the immediate disbandment of the Nigerian National Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) anti-vandalism unit across the country.
In an electronically signed press release issued to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP, by the Corps director of public relations, DCC Olusola Odumosu, DCC Olusola Odumosu stated, “Determined to ensure the realization of its mandate to protect critical national assets and infrastructure as well as countering the threat of oil theft in the country, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has announced the disbandment of its anti-vandal units across the country.
The statement reads: “In announcing the disbandment at the Corps National Headquarters in Abuja, Commander-General Ahmed Abubakar Audi, PhD, mni announced that the Minister of the Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aragbesola approved the measure to reposition the Corps for better service delivery. “
He also ordered all illegal roadblocks set up by the Anti-Vandal Unit across the country to be dismantled with immediate effect.
“Given the recent developments in some states and the unit’s unsatisfactory performance over the past few months, there is a need to sanitize the unit’s operations and inject new zeal into operations.
“The Home Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has authorized the nationwide disbandment of the unit and the dismantling of all unauthorized roadblocks set up by NSCDC personnel across the country, effective immediately.
“The Minister has also ordered the immediate nationwide reconstitution of the Anti-Vandal Unit and we will do so without delay,” the CG said.
The commander-general, speaking harshly while addressing Corps top management and state commanders nationwide, claimed the federal government had expressed serious displeasure at the issue of oil theft, which required drastic action by the Corps to destroy the main revenue base of the to protect country.
He condemned suggestions by some quarters that security agencies were complicit in oil theft and warned that NSCDC would not hesitate to use its internal disciplinary mechanisms to sanction any staff caught sabotaging government efforts.
“Nigerian security and civil defense will not condone unethical practices, wrongdoing or wrongdoing,” Audi warned urgently.
The Commander-General further stated that appropriate modalities were put in place to avoid loopholes and warned perpetrators of such economic crimes as illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism to refrain, assuring that the reconstitution of new anti-vandalism teams would not exceed one week .
Dr Audi thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for his immense support which he says has led to the procurement of eight gunboats commissioned for deployment in the Niger Delta region recently.
He added that very soon, operational vehicles procured by the Corps with support from the federal government will be commissioned by Interior Minister Ogbeni Rauf Aragbesola.
“The federal government’s support for the Corps demonstrates the government’s seriousness in addressing the problem of oil theft, and the Corps is meeting expectations without compromising standards,” the commander-general asserted.
