NSCDC to Sustain  Collaboration  with  Security Agencies  to  Fight Oil Theft

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

The Nigerian security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has promised to sustain the partnership with sister security agencies and private security outfits to combat oil theft in the country.

The Commandant of NSCDC, Delta State Command, Suleimon Jimoh, gave the assurance yesterday shortly after he inspected the impounded MT KALI vessel in Oporoza, Warri South West Local Government Area of the state.

Flanked by some senior officers of the Command, Jimoh expressed delight at the feat, and urged his men to sustain the tempo geared toward eradicating oil theft in the country.

MT KALI vessel was arrested in a joint operation by personnel of the Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSNL) and that of NSCDC last Thursday at Pennington Oil Field in Bayelsa State.

The vessel laden with about 119 metric tons of stolen crude oil, was consequently nabbed alongside 23 suspects, excluding one that allegedly jumped into the sea, and moved to Oporoza for anchorage while investigation continues.

Addressing journalists last Sunday on the development, the Executive Director, Operations Technical of TSSNL, Capt. Warriedi Enisuoh, had said the vessel was seized while criminally siphoning crude oil from a platform operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

Enisuoh explained that the vessel had been on the watch list of the TSSNL and NSCDC following intelligence gathering, adding that: “Precisely, few weeks ago, we have been interested in MT KALI because it has been operating in Nigeria and the International waters illegally carrying crude oil and diesel.

“This time around, it was unable to carryout it’s act successfully. Intelligence came to us, we processed and shared it on the need-to-know basis so that the operation will be successful,” he said.

Enisuoh said the exercise would not have been successful if not for the support of the security agents, notably the NSCDC.

In the same vein, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had last Monday sent a high-powered delegation led by the Chief of Naval Staff, General Christopher Musa, and top military and the NNPCL officials to inspect the vessel.

 Tinubu lauded the TSSL and the NSCDC for the success, and promised a better collaboration between the private security outfits and the federal government security forces.