In a strong statement issued on Monday, the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, vowed to crack down on oil thieves operating within the country. Dr Audi, speaking at the graduation ceremony of newly-trained personnel in weapon handling in Abuja, announced the deployment of a highly skilled team and recently acquired assets to combat the menace.
Over the past two years, the NSCDC has trained over 10,000 officers in weapon handling and special tactics. Addressing the graduates, Dr Audi urged them to strive towards reducing and, if possible, eliminating oil theft entirely. He emphasized the Corps’ commitment to apprehending oil thieves, stating, “We shall go after them and bring them to book. We have made strong statements that vandals should relocate to other countries because they are going to have a hard time with the NSCDC.”
Highlighting the achievements of the NSCDC, Dr Audi emphasized the creation and development of specialized units, including the CG’s Intelligence Squad, CG’s Antivandal Squad, CG’s Marine Squad, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Female Squad, Crack Squad, and the recently established Safe School Initiative aimed at safeguarding educational institutions from outlaws.
Furthermore, the Commandant General announced the implementation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) within the NSCDC. In addition, he revealed the establishment of training schools in Nasarawa, Enugu, and Jos, as part of efforts to enhance the professional capabilities of the personnel.
Responding to concerns regarding promotion backlogs, particularly affecting the 2010 and 2012 sets, Dr Audi assured that the issue was being addressed with utmost attention. He acknowledged the inherited problem of promotion arrears but stated, “As of today, we are no longer owing.” Dr Audi explained that promotions were based on available vacancies and the principles of federal character. He appealed to personnel affected by the backlog to exercise patience, assuring them that efforts were being made to address the issue.
The NSCDC under the leadership of Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi has displayed a strong commitment to combatting oil theft and enhancing the overall effectiveness of the Corps. With the deployment of newly-trained personnel and the acquisition of advanced assets, the NSCDC is poised to make significant strides in curbing this criminal activity and ensuring the safety and security of Nigeria’s oil resources.
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