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Tag: NSCDC

  • NSCDC intercepts sacks of illegally refined oil in Bayelsa

    NSCDC intercepts sacks of illegally refined oil in Bayelsa

    Ordinarily, they look like bags of rice or processed cassava popularly known as garri. But they are sacks of illegally-refined petroleum products. It has become a new strategy adopted by economic saboteurs to transport their stolen products to their chosen destinations.

    The bags of illegally-refined products were loaded in over five vehicles to deceive security operatives. But luck ran out on their owners when they could not escape the prying eyes of operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Bayelsa State command.

    The suspected vandals deliberately removed the plate numbers of some of the vehicles. Most of the vehicles used in the illegal business had tinted windscreens with their trunks and back seats stuffed with the sacks.

    It was amazing how the operatives knew that the vehicles were carrying suspected proceeds of theft and sabotage. Of particular interest were two Hilux vans. One of them had its trunk loaded with the petroleum sacks and covered to look as it was carrying nothing. The other was a customized Hilux van locally built for the purpose of conveying such products.

    The products were first bagged in polythene material by the suspects, who later stored them in sacks making them look like bags of cereals.

    The state’s NSCDC Commandant, Mr. Desmond Agu, said  bagging of stolen oil was the newest tactics adopted by vandals to evade arrest. He said that each sack contained 50 litres of illegally-refined product adding that the seized vehicles were carrying many of such sacks.

    Agu, who paraded 11 suspects arrested in connection with illegal bunkering at the corps headquarters in Yenagoa, said they would be charged to court after further interrogations and investigations.

    He gave the names of the suspects as Nelly E, Woyengimiebi B, Lucky T, Anomotimifagha O, Michael W, Michael B, Mathias T, Ngozi S, Mathew T, Peter A and Sam A.

    He said they were nabbed in line with the mandate of NSCDC to ensure zero tolerance to vandalism, sabotage of public facilities especially critical national assets such as pipelines and other oil installations.

    Agu further said that following some special operations, the command destroyed 29 illegal refineries located mostly in communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

    He said: “Specifically, the illegal refineries were located at Otuo, Oyeregbene, Igbomatoru, Azuzuama, Korokorosie and Ukapartubu.

    “In our efforts to deter people from crimes and keeping faith with the rule of law, we have been pursuing many cases against suspects in court.

    “We have so far secured 19 convictions while we are pursuing 17 more cases at various stages in court. We hope to secure more convictions”.

    Agu also appealed to members of the public to assist the corps in stamping out illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism and sabotage of public infrastructure by providing timely and useful information.

    “We will treat the information with the highest level of confidentiality. We will not stand on out oars until we reduce to the barest minimum crimes against public peace and economic sabotage within our mandate.

    “Apart from impacting negatively on the revenue of Bayelsa and the commonwealth of the nation, illegal oil bunkering and vandalism destroy the ecosystem and the health of the nation”, he said.

    While thanking the Commandant-General, Abdullahi Muhammadu and the Minister of Interior for providing required logistics, he said the command needed more gunboats and other equipment to discharge its responsibility.

    But some of the suspects admitted committing the offence. One of them identified as Sam Alayebimo, said she started the illegal trade following the government’s failures to engage them in meaningful employment.

    Alayebimo said she was conveying the illegally-refined product from Okaki to the Bayelsa Palm in Yenagoa when she was caught.

    She said: “Initially, I hated this business. But because I couldn’t get any other job to do and I have children to feed and pay their school fees, I started doing it. The government cannot give us job. They only employ their family members. I have to do this job to survive”.

    Also another suspect, Emmanuel, said the anti-vandal taskforce in their community in Southern Ijaw asked them to destroy all their illegal refineries in exchange of some benefits.

    He said: “We destroyed all the refineries as requested by the taskforce. They documented PIR names but refused to pay us. I decided to stop. But one of my colleagues in school asked me to assist him in conveying some of the products from Azuzuama to Korokorosie. It was in the process that I was caught.”

  • Gunmen kill bank customer in Imo 

    Gunmen kill bank customer in Imo 

    Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers Thursday caused pandemonium in Owerri, the Imo state capital after they shot a bank customer, who was returning from one of the new generation banks after withdrawing huge sum of money.

    The dare-devil armed robbers shot the victim who was in the car with his wife severally before carting away the cash.

    According to eyewitnesses, the victim was trailed from the bank by the by the gang of three who operated in a Camry salon car.

    It was learnt that the assailants who caught up with their victim before the Okigwe roundabout directly opposite the Government House had shot sporadically into the air to scare away the people and ordered their victim to hand over the money, but when he resisted they shot him three times snatched the money away and zoomed off .

    One of the eyewitnesses, ” I was at the Newspapers stand across the road which is just before the Okigwe roundabout when I heard a gunshot and then two young men who were in a Camry car who  blocked a Man and his wife in another car came out.

    “hey asked the man where is the money and at that moment woman ran out of the car, but man refused to hand over the money to them and one of the robbers shot him three times and still took the money from him. But I don’t know if he was dead but he was seriously wounded”.

    The source further added that “immediately the robbers started shooting into the air that all the Policemen including the NSCDC who were at the roundabout just opposite Government House  ran away and that it was after the robbers had long gone that they came back”.

    Another source who witnessed the incident from a close range,  said that “I was four cars behind the robbers when they blocked the man and as soon as they cornered the man who was inside the car with a woman they started shooting into the air.

    ”  it was when I had gunshots that it dawned on me that those in that Camry were robbers because they had overtook me and I was wondering where they were hurrying to not knowing that they were actually after somebody. Even when they had succeeded in their evil act they kept shooting into the air which sent people running in different directions including the Policemen at the Okigwe roundabout junction”.

    The Police Public Relations Officer of the Imo state Police Command, Andrew w(DSP),who confirmed the incident  said that the victim was confirmed dead at the Federal Medical Centre Owerri.

  • NSCDC arrests fake soldier in Borno

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Borno Command, said on Thursday it has arrested a man, Ahmed Alibe, 21, posing as a soldier and molesting members of the public.

    The Corps Commandant, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said Alibe was arrested on Wednesday at the Nasara Computer Centre in the state capital.

    Abdullahi said the suspect, who was in military uniform, was seen harassing and intimidating candidates preparing for the forthcoming Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) organised Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    “We were told that a soldier in uniform was molesting and beating young boys and girls who were registering for the JAMB,” Abdullahi said.

    “We noticed that his action was questionable so we sent our men to go and monitor him. On arrival they discovered he was not a soldier but just wearing the uniform to molest innocent people.

    “When we interrogated him here at the command, he said the uniform belonged to his brother’s friend.

    “We are waiting to see his brother’s friend; if not we will assume that he killed an army officer and took his uniform.

    “The culprit could have perpetrated any crime and many might think he was an army officer. This is a crime on its own and he must be punished.

    “He will be handed over to the military for proper interrogation and prosecution.”

    NAN

  • Police parade two NSCDC staff for bunkering

    The Police on Thursday in Abuja paraded two officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for allegedly dealing in illegally refined Petroleum products.

    The police also paraded two other suspects for unlawful possession of firearms, conspiracy and violence during the last River State House of Assembly supplementary election.

    The two NSCDC staff paraded are – Ogah Oviedo and Angel Kilosomemo.

    Items recovered from them include a patrol van belonging to the Corp and 350 litres of illegally refined diesel.

    Briefing journalists in Abuja, the Force Spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, said “the IGP’s Special Task Force on Petroleum and illegal bunkering on March 7 at about 2100hrs while on patrol intercepted a patrol van belonging to the NSCDC loaded with suspected illegally refined Petroleum products along Otuasegha area of Yenagoa.

    “The two suspects volunteered confessional statements admitting to be personnel of the NSCDC attached to critical infrastructure department, Bayelsa State command and that the van belongs to their HOD Lawrence Ndubushi.”

    Moshood noted that the office of the suspects has been informed and the police investigation team is awaiting their response on the case before arraigning the suspects in court.

    Those paraded for electoral violence in Rivers are – Brigg Dinabo and  Harry Omeba  and items recovered from them include two AK 47 rifles, three magazines, 24 rounds of live ammunitions, two expended ammunition shell, 50 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) tags and one Acura Jeep with registration no AFM875FN.

    The Force spokesman added: “On Saturday, February 25, 2017 during the rerun of the Rivers State legislative election, suspected thugs unleashed violence on voters, shooting indiscriminately and thereby hijacked ballot boxes in gross violation of the electoral act.

    “In the process the two suspects were identified and arrested by SARS patrol team at Etche, Rivers State.”

    He said investigation is ongoing to arrest three other suspects who are still at large.

    They are Samuel Nwanosilla, Odiane Princewill and Roland Sekibo.

  • NSCDC evacuates 78 destitute from Kaduna

    NSCDC evacuates 78 destitute from Kaduna

    The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Tuesday said it evacuated no few than 78 destitute in Kaduna metropolis between March 17 and March 20.

    The command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Orndiir Terzungwe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that their ages ranged from four years to 14 years.

    Terzungwe said that the destitute had been handed over to the Kaduna State Rehabilitation Centre in Makera, Kakuri in Kaduna South Local Government Area.

    He said the command was awaiting further directive from the state government on the next line of action on the destitute.

    He said those who were not from the state would be repatriated to their states of origin while those from the state would be properly rehabilitated at the centre.

    The spokesperson said the officials from the command were civil in carrying out the operation.

    “We will continue to rid the state of destitute and we appeal for cooperation from the public, “he said

  • NSCDC warns against fake recruitment exercise

    NSCDC warns against fake recruitment exercise

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), is to train 2, 500 of its old staff to further ensure the Corps’ security preparedness. NSCDC Commandant General, (CG), Muhammadu Abdullahi, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja during an exclusive interview with The Nation.
    Abdullahi also refuted what he described as rumor that the corps is recruiting adding that anyone that is defrauded should not hold the corps liable. He also advised Nigerians to be security conscious with assurance that NSCDC will not leave any stone unturned to secure critical infrastructure.
    The NSCDC boss disclosed that the corps is effectively complimenting the efforts of the police and military in curbing criminal acts. His words: “We are not employing and we are not doing any replacement. I was asked the same question when I went for budget defense in the House of Representatives.
    “What we are doing is that we are training our old staff. And very soon we will train about 2, 500 officers in Kaduna and deports. When Nigerians see our men training in white shorts everyone will assume that we are recruiting. We do not recruit through the website, or social media.
    “When is time for recruitment, we will use the print media, that is what we normally do. Our adverts will be in at least five daily newspapers. It is then you will know that we are recruiting.”

  • NSCDC trains 1,520 officers on firearms handling

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oyo State Command, has trained 1,520 officers on firearms handling in order to better secure government property in the state.

    The Oyo State Commandant of NSCDC, Mr. John Adewoye, disclosed this on Saturday in Ibadan.

    Adewoye said 1,300 officers were trained on how to handle firearms in 2016, while additional 220 were trained in 2017, bringing the total number to 1,520.

    He said the reason for the training on the use of firearms was to enable the officers become proactive and scientific in handling crime in the country.

    “NSCDC needs to be updated so that at any point in time the corps would not be found wanting in the task of preventing crime in the state,” the commandant said.

    “With this training the corps will be able to deploy more officers to the pipeline right of way to ensure that no single pipeline is vandalised in the state.

    “Let me tell you, for the past one and a half year that I have been posted to Oyo state, no single incident of pipeline vanadalism had been recorded.

    “Our mandate is to safeguard critical property of federal, state and local government, like steel and mining site, pipeline, electrical cable, water cable and anything provided by the government for the citizenry.”

    NAN

     

     

  • Trader accuses IKEDC, NSCDC of assault, wrongful detention

    Trader accuses IKEDC, NSCDC of assault, wrongful detention

    •NSCDC: she stabbed power firm’s official

    A petty trader, Mrs. Ayodele Ediale, 35, has accused Ikeja Electric (IE) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) of unjust treatment but NSCDC denied the claim, saying the woman was never maltreated.
    Mrs. Ediale was paraded last month for allegedly stabbing an IE official, Stephen John Enyinna, during a disagreement at 6, Ayodola Street, Alimosho
    The woman, who said she was detained for four days and later charged to court without being given fair hearing, denied committing the offence.
    At the Public Advice Centre (PAC), Alausa, where she and her husband went to seek justice, she appealed to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to look into her matter.
    She claimed, she was severely beaten up by Enyinna, who also used his helmet to hit her on her stomach and other parts of her body for “being rude.”
    She said: “It is really sad how people who think they have power trample on others. At no point did I stab him. In fact, he was the one who slapped me and started beating me that I answered his boss rudely. I had to fight back when the beating was too much before neighbours saw what was happening and pulled him away.
    “What actually caused the problem was that they had disconnected light from my mother’s house about three weeks before January 16. They had presented a very high bill which my widowed mother and stepmother couldn’t pay.
    “The men from IE office in Alimosho are always coming in batches to harass and extort the women, who had pleaded to pay the exorbitant bill in instalments.
    “So, I was at my mother’s house that January 16 when two IE workers entered the compound. I was outside with my step sister but my mother was inside. When they came, they asked who disconnected the light and where the wire was?
    “This disgusted me and my stepsister. We replied that such questioning was rhetorical and Enyinna Stephen went wild saying we were being rude to his boss and instantly slapped me.
    “I was infuriated and held onto his clothes as my sister tried to calm me down. Stephen continued to abuse and assault me, he incessantly hit my breasts and other parts of my body with his helmet.
    “After the brawl and scuffle, neighbours came around to my rescue. They dragged him out and locked our gate. I felt abused and started throwing stones at him, as my mother and neighbour calmed me.
    “Within an hour, some NSCDC officers came to my place armed with guns. I was surprised to see them and even more shocked to see Enyinna bleeding. They dragged me to their office and detained me after I was asked to write a statement.
    “I was still wondering why I am the one being detained instead of the man who assaulted me, then it occurred to me that he might have slit his arm intentionally so that he can get away with his crime against me.
    “Then, on January 18, I was paraded before newsmen and called a thief. I even tried to cover my face but NSCDC operatives brushed my hands off and shouted at me.
    “I was maltreated and wondered what crime I committed. At this point, I was advised to start pleading with the Ikeja Electric’s counsel. And that’s when I started apologising for a crime I didn’t commit. I and my husband knelt down to apologise to Stephen (Enyinna) at the NSCDC headquarters in Alausa.”
    NSCDC spokesperson, Mary Kehinde-Bada said from pictures and witnesses, testimonies, Mrs. Ediale stabbed Enyinna with a broken bottle.
    She said: “It’s untrue that we perpetrated injustice against her. We are in partnership with the electricrity companies because we protect their installations. Normally, when they go out to the field, our men usually escort them.
    “But that day at Alimosho,  none of our operatives went with them. So, when the incident happened, the officials called for backup and that was how our people got there. From our investigation, the woman broke a bottle and stabbed the official wirh it. We have picture evidence and also have testimonies from witnesses. It is also not true that she was denied bail. She was granted administrative bail but didn’t meet her bail condition.”

  • Woman accuses IKEDC, NSCDC of assault, wrongful detention

    Woman accuses IKEDC, NSCDC of assault, wrongful detention

    A petty trader, Mrs. Ayodele Ediale, 35, has accused Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) of smearing her name, after treating her unfairly.

    Mrs. Ediale was paraded in January and alleged to have stabbed an IKEDC official, Stephen John Enyinna during a disagreement at 6, Ayodola Street, Alimosho

    The woman, who said she was detained for four days and later charged to court without her side of the story heard, denied committing the crime.

    Mrs. Ediale who was described as a murderer by some media houses after she was paraded, Monday told The Nation she was shocked at the unprofessional conduct of officials of the NSCDC.

    At the Public Advice Centre (PAC), Alausa, where she alongside her husband visited to demand justice, the woman appealed to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to look into her matter.

    According to her, she was severely beaten by the said Enyinna, who also used his helmet to hit her on her stomach and other parts of her body for “being rude.”

    She said: “It is really sad how people who think they have power trample on others. At no point did I stab him. In fact, he was the one who slapped me and started beating me that I answered his boss rudely. I had to fight back when the beating was too much before neighbours saw what was happening and pulled him away.

    “What actually caused the problem was that they had disconnected light from my mother’s house about three weeks before January 16. They had presented a very high bill which my widowed mother and step-mother couldn’t pay.

    “The men from IKEDC office in Alimosho are always coming in batches to harass and extort the women, who had pleaded to pay the exorbitant bill in instalments.

    “So, I was at my mother’s house that January 16 when two IKEDC workers entered the compound. I was outside with my step sister but my mother was inside. When they came, they asked who disconnected the light and where the wire was?

    “This disgusted me and my step sister. We replied that such questioning was rhetorical and Enyinna Stephen went wild saying we were being rude to his boss and instantly slapped me.

    “I was infuriated and held unto his clothes as my sister tried to calm me down. Stephen continued to abuse and assault me; he incessantly hit my breasts and other parts of my body with his helmet.

    “After the brawls and scuffles, neighbours came around to my rescue. They dragged him out and locked our gate. I felt abused and started throwing stones at him, as my mother and neighbour calmed me.

    “Within an hour, some NSCDC officers came to my place armed with guns. I was surprised to see them and even more shocked to see Enyinna bleeding. They dragged me to their office and detained me after I was asked to write a statement.

    “I was still wondering why I am the one being detained instead of the man who assaulted me, then, it occurred to me that he might have slit his arm intentionally so that he can get away with his crime against me.

    “I was called a witch at NSCDC office. They accused me of being a wicked woman and told me I’ll wrath in prison. No one cared to listen to my side of the story. Nobody asked me what I did and if I really stabbed the man.

    “The counsel to the Ikeja Electric Company was working with the legal department of NSCDC. They were only busy plotting how to make me a scape goat. Then, on January 18, I was paraded before newsmen and called a thief. I even tried to cover my face but NSCDC operatives brushed my hands off and shouted at me.

    “I was maltreated and wondered what crime I committed. At this point, I was advised to start pleading with the Ikeja Electric’s counsel. And that’s when I started apologizing for a crime I didn’t commit. I and my husband knelt down to apologize to Stephen (Enyinna) at the NSCDC headquarters in Alausa.”

    Continuing, the woman said she was detained for four days without bail, exposed to mosquitoes and other inhumane treatment.

    She said: “Because we couldn’t afford to pay a lawyer, we were pleading with the officials to grant me bail but they kept refusing. Eventually, I was charged to court after I was paraded.

    “I am sad that people who feel they have might and money coukd do things and get away with it. How can NSCDC that survives on tax payers’ money become an accomplice in such evil? What stopped them from investigating to know who actually committed an offence?”

    Contacted, spokesperson for NSCDC, Mary Kehinde-Bada denied allegations of connivance and injustice against the agency.

    She said from picture evidence and testimonies of witnesses, Mrs. Ediale stabbed Enyinna with a broken bottle.

    She said: “It’s untrue that we perpetrated injustice against her. We are in partnership with the electricrity companies because we protect their instalments. Normally, when they go out to the field, our men usually escort them.

    “But that day at Alimosho, none of our operatives went with them. So, when the incident happened, the officials called for backup and that was how our people got there. From our investigation, the woman broke a bottle and stabbed the official with it. We have picture evidence and also have testimony from witnesses. It is also not true that she was denied bail. She was granted administrative bail but didn’t meet her bail condition.”

  • Xenophobia: NSCDC uncovers plans to attack MTN in Bayelsa

    The Bayelsa State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has uncovered plans by some persons to attack investments of MTN in the state as a reprisal for ongoing attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

    The state’s Commander of NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, said in a statement in Yenagoa on Monday that the corps was on red alert to stop aggrieved persons from destroying MTN’s facilities in the state.

    Agu said intelligence reports revealed that such persons were planning to vent their anger on MTN’s masts and other facilities.

    He advised persons behind such plots to desist from toeing a violent path and appealed to members of the public to report suspicious persons to the corps.

    He said: “Our attention has been drawn to an intelligence report that some persons are planning to carry out an attack on South African investments especially the MTN’s telecommunication masts and other facilities following the ongoing xenophobia attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

    “Members of the public especially Bayelsans are hereby advised to desist from such acts and avoid taking laws into their hands.

    “As an organisation saddled with the responsibility of protecting our critical national infrastructures, the command remains committed to deliver on its mandate.

    “Members of the public are hereby advised to report persons or group of persons suspected to be planning such attacks to the command.”