By Vitalis Ugoh
Officers and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Cross River had within the past seven months closed down five illegal refineries in different locations in the state.
The closure was recorded under the period under review according to the state Commandant, Adesuyi Dayo Clement while briefing news men in his office recently.
Also, he said, about15 persons were currently facing trial in court while three others have been convicted for oil theft and bunkering related activities within his command.
Dayo said the main objectives of the NSCDC are the protection of national assets and critical infrastructure as well as involvement in internal security.
He said his command is also collaborating with men of the department of petroleum resources to ensure price stability in the price of fuel across the state.
He said erring filling stations that fail to heed to the official pump price of fuel will be sanctioned, adding that “in 2015 we were able to make remarkable achievement as 15 suspects were arrested and prosecuted while seven cases are currently in court with three convicted for vandalization of pipe-line and oil theft.”
Dayo added: “We have also recovered 30 drums of fuel and succeeded in reducing bunkering activities to the barest minimum within the year under review.”
He said vandalization of cables had also been reduced and deployment of operational vehicles to avert diversion in Ogoja, Obudu, and Akamkpa local government areas of the state was on going.
He also said his command is collaborating with other sister agencies especially the Navy and Immigration to check the activities of oil theft and illegal immigrants into the country.
Culled from Paradise Eagle