BY GABRIEL OKECHUKWU, PORT HARCOURT
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense, Rivers State Command has debunked a rumor that it arrested an oil marketer who exposed extortion of millions of naira by its lawless personnel.
The State Commandant, Mr. Michael Ogar, while addressing journalists in Port Harcourt described the publication as misleading and a calculated effort to taint the image of the command.
Mr. Ogar urged credible media to distance itself from such malicious publication stating that the command under his leadership is more purposeful and determined and would not be distracted.
“The attempt to stir up, discontent and whip up sentiments with regards to the unsubstantiated and baseless report that the owner of the NNPC filling station along Today’s FM Rumuekini in Port Harcourt was arrested and detained by the Command for releasing the video footage is highly condemnable and disdainful.
“The NSCDC Rivers State Command wishes to call on all credible media and reputable journalists to distance themselves from the apparently biased, unprofessional and disgraceful yellow journalism practiced by some media channels and purveyors of fake and misleading news.
“It is also noteworthy to relay that the NSCDC Rivers State Command made a total of 75 arrests both on land and waterways out of which are 54 Suspects; In addition the Command further secured 17 convictions and made interim forfeitures of Petroleum products and over 20 different modes of conveyance such as wooden boats, fiber boats, Trucks, Tankers and Cars abandoned by fleeing illegal dealers in Petroleum products from January till date”.
The State Commandant said adequate modalities have been put in place to ensure there are no bad eggs among its personnel.
With the reconstitution of the anti-vandal team ongoing, he warned that any officer who connives or encourages crude oil thieves will be treated as a criminal.
“Recall that the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola had earlier directed the immediate reconstitution of the Ant vandal unit nationwide and the process is ongoing without delay”.
“The Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi mni. had also talked tough while addressing the top management of the Corps and State Commandants nationwide where he maintained that the federal government expressed serious displeasure on the issue of oil theft which required drastic measures by the Corps in order to protect the major revenue base of the country”
“It is also noteworthy to relay that the NSCDC Rivers State Command made a total of 75 arrests both on land and waterways out of which are 54 Suspects; In addition the Command further secured 17 convictions and made interim forfeitures of Petroleum products and over 20 different modes of conveyance such as wooden boats, fiber boats, Trucks, Tankers and Cars abandoned by fleeing illegal dealers in Petroleum products from January till date”.
“The Command under the leadership of Commandant Michael Besong Ogar is rugged, purposeful, determined and would not be distracted by any mischievous submission by agent provocateurs”.
“It will interest the public to know that Information drafted through a volunteered phone call by Mr. Miyer shows that he personally decried the action of the Journalist and he emphatically said that the NSCDC did not arrest or detain him but he was rather arrested for Illegal dealings in petroleum products and vandalism of oil pipelines by another Agency of the Federal Government”.
The NSCDC State Boss announced that twenty-five arrests have been made by the command recently from over twenty means of conveyance.
