The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Security agencies

  • Security agencies discover 23 illegal refineries in Anambra

    Security agencies have discovered 23 illegal petroleum refineries in Atani, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    The Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state, Mr. Michael Ochogwu, announced the discovery in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Thursday.

    Ochogwu said naval officers from the Onitsha outpost discovered the illegal activities and invited the NSCDC to inspect and evacuate the tanks and products.

    He said a combined team of the NSCDC, the Nigeria Army and the Nigerian Navy visited the area and discovered 23 illegal refineries near Iyiowa Odekpe, Atani in Ogbaru.

    “The areas where the illegal refineries were discovered span more than two kilometres. Fire wood used for the refining, refined and unrefined products were discovered.

    “We travelled for almost one and a half hours before reaching the site of the refineries,’’ he said.

    Ochogwu noted that the vandals operating the facilities were not arrested “because they took to their heels on citing the army and naval officers who discovered their nefarious activities.’’

    He expressed surprise that for long, some Nigerians had created illegal refineries on the river bank to refine crude oil illegally transported from the sea.

    While commending the efforts of the naval and army officers, Ochogwu emphasised the need for adequate training and provision of speed boats for the NSCDC to tackle vandalism.

     

  • Security agencies ready for today’s Abuja Area Council polls

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja Security Committee has held an emergency meeting with an assurance to the residents of the territory that the security agencies are set for today’s council elections.

    The emergency meeting, which was chaired by the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, was held at the Banquet Hall of the Minister’s Residence, Gwarinpa I District, Abuja.

    Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, the Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) FCT Command, Mr. Aminu Abdullahi Kofar-Soro, disclosed that the emergency meeting was summoned by the FCT Minister who is the Chairman of the FCT Security Committee to finetune the security arrangements so far made to ensure a hitch-free election.

    The commandant reiterated that the committee noted the importance of elections in a political dispensation and the need to protect lives and property before, during and after the elections.

    He said the FCT security agencies have taken a pro-active action to protect the sensitive and insensitive materials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    According to him, the committee announced the restriction of the movement of people between 7am and 5pm and solicited for the cooperation of all residents.

    The committee, however, warned that anybody caught disrupting public peace would face the full wrath of the law as thuggery cannot be entertained.

    The commandant pointed out that in order to guarantee the peaceful conduct of the elections, for instance, the NSCDC, FCT Command has already deployed 7,000 of its officers and men.

    While appealing for peace, the commandant said the FCT Security Committee used the occasion to call on the residents of the territory to please come out en-masse to freely elect the councils’ leaders of their choice.

    The emergency meeting was also attended by the FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, Acting Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Nuhu Ahmed, all the heads of military formation in FCT; FCT Police Commissioner; Director, Department of State Security; FCT Commandant of the NSCDC, representatives of customs, immigration and prisons.