The Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC Ogun Command CC Everestus Obiyo has declared a total war against pipeline vandals. 

Obiyo gave this declaration on Wednesday while briefing journalists on the activities of the command since his inception of barely six weeks held at the command’s headquarters, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The NSCDC boss stated that the command had recorded success in fighting vandals who specialise in bursting and stealing petroleum products from the oil pipelines across the state.

According to him, the vandals around Ogijo in Sagamu local government, on sighting the command’s Anti-Vandal team with gun shots set ablaze three vehicles that they have brought to carry out their nefarious activities saying that the vehicles were burnt beyond recognition.

He emphasized that the command also recently recovered a blue painted caravan bus with Lagos registration number, AKD 587 XL loaded with 44 kegs of 25 litres of petrol, another six and half loaded drum with long hose use in perpetrating their crimes.

“250 kegs of 30 litres of petrol were also recovered around Akere area of Ipokia in Yewa South local government while another 69 sacks of petrol abandoned by the vandals had been returned to NNPC, Mosimi depot, Sagamu.”

The commandant told the journalists that Ogun State is facing a challenges with unrepentant vandals, adding that the command is also giving them a sleepless time not just to reduce to the lowest minimum but to stop the nefarious activities of vandals in the State.

He disclosed that his administration have decided to place permanent watch and patrol over all black spots across all the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipelines across the State.

Obiyo further explained that since his assumption of office, he had resolved to wipe out vandalism in Ogun State.

He declared that all all those that were arrested in connection with these criminal infractions were at various degrees of prosecution at the Federal High Court, Abeokuta.

Everestus stated that “We have also placed very stringent mechanism against any of our men who intend to collaborate, co-opt or participate in the acts of vandalism. We are aware of possible temptations but all hands are on deck to see that these temptations from vandals do not come to fruition.

He noted that all officers and men of the corps are encouraged to remain vigilant and proactive in their various places of duty and assignment

However the commandant stated that he addressed the village head chiefs to warned them, to support and give adequate information to the men to en route the command for any emergencies /immediate assistance and this has drastically reduce the level of crime on the pipeline.

Also, Obiyo had also strengthen private guards company department to avoid breeding quacks in the process and this comes by giving appropriate sanctions to erring operators if discovered. He made it clear that a duly registered PGC’s operators must ensure that their guards wear identifiable tags which would become fully effective by January 2019 across the federation.

Conclusively, the commandant stated that they have been able to respond adequately to emergencies with their disaster management team which has yielded positive results in the reduction of causalities of several mishaps in the state.