1st December, 2016
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has again warned vandals, illegal dealers and adulteration of petroleum products to desist from the act or face the wrath of the law.
Its Commandant General (CG), Mr Abdullahi Muhammadu, gave the warning against the backdrop of the recent sentencing of 16 persons to life imprisonment for petroleum product adulteration in Calabar, Cross Rivers.
The offenders were convicted and sentenced by a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo on Tuesday.
The convicts, who were arrested by the Bayelsa Command of the NSCDC on July 7, were found guilty of adulterating 100 tonnes of petroleum product suspected to be diesel.
A statement by the NSCDC spokesman, Mr Emmanuel Okeh, quoted the CG as saying there was no hiding place for vandals and economic saboteurs.
Muhammadu stated that the corps was poised to effectively pursue its mandate of protecting critical infrastructure and other national assets.
“Vandals and their cohorts should either quit the illicit business or relocate from the country as the NSCDC is prepared to fish out those who have chosen to be enemies of the nation.
“Enough is enough; we must rise to the challenge of tackling this ugly phenomenon of vandalism and other related crimes.
“Attacking our personnel will not deter us from fighting the scourge, rather it will make us more rugged and dogged in the crusade, ‘’ he said.
The CG charged the personnel not to relent in the fight against vandalism, illegal oil bunkering, theft and allied criminal acts.
The CG commended the judgment, saying that it would serve as deterrent to others.
He urged other judges to emulate Justice Ekwo through speedy trial of cases brought before them.