The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, has set up a Special Task to clampdown on people engaged in vandalism, illegal refineries, oil theft, and illegal bunkering.

“This is in line with the Corps mandate in the protection of critical infrastructure and National Assets,” NSCDC Public Relations Officer, ACC Emmanuel NSCDC, said.

According to NSCDC in a statement issued Monday in Abuja, “The Corps helmsman while charging the Special Task Force on their responsibilities in tracking down vandals and operatives of illegal refineries, also directed the State Commandants to cooperate and work in synergy with the Commandant General’s Special Task Force assigned to their states for the Special operation in clamping down on illegal dealers on petroleum products, vandals, illegal refineries, illegal bunkering, marketers involved in diversion of petroleum products. The operation also extends to filling stations selling above approved government pump price, hoarding of products, those involved in black marketing and racketeering as well as other related crimes for prosecution in line with the Law of the federation.

“To further buttress the need for the Special Task Force, Abdullahi stressed that the Corps as at December 2015, have identified and destroyed over 200 illegal Refineries in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Edo, Kogi, Ondo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom states, among others, and over 120 suspects involved in the act of vandalism and other associated crimes have been prosecuted and sentenced to various prisons terms by the High Courts in their respective states.

“He also reiterated that, about 250 suspects are still undergoing prosecution in various state high courts with over 80 trucks containing petroleum products impounded with several operational equipment belonging to suspected vandals recovered.

“Abdullahi therefore charged the Task Force and other operational officers to live up to expectation by justifying the confidence the Government and the people have for the Corps by ensuring that vandalism is reduced to the barest minimum by deploying all necessary mechanisms to check mate the illicit act.

“In the same vein, the Corps Chief Executive assured the Government of the Corps readiness to tackle vandalism and other illicit crimes in line with the Corps Mandate in the Protection of Critical Infrastructure and National Asset in all ramifications by deploying all necessary arsenal to monitor and to clamp down on decedents.”

Okeh quoted Abdullahi as sayng: “We are an agency of Government created to tackle this onerous task of fighting the scourge of vandalism, illegal bunkering, illegal refinery, oil theft, and other allied crimes, therefore we will continue to fight these illicit acts diligently in ensuring that, the Nation is rid of these obnoxious activity perpetrated by some few individuals that have posed as an enemy of the State as a result of greed and selfishness. We will not rest on our oars until the battle it’s all over.”

The Corps boss, according to Okeh, seized the opportunity to appreciate all other security agencies and the stakeholders, especially the Armed Forces and Joint Task Forces for their unalloyed support and assistance in assisting the Corps in prosecuting the war against vandalism.

“Abdullahi warned those still in the business of vandalism to desist or relocate from the nation as the Corps will deal decisively with anyone caught whose act is inimical to the State,” Okeh said.