The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Jigawa said on Tuesday that five people were injured from a suspected smuggled gas that exploded in Babura Local Government Area of the state.
The spokesman of the NSCDC, CSC Adamu Shehu, who confirmed the incident in Dutse, added that the explosion also damaged shops and houses.
Also, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Lawan Shiisu, confirmed the incident. He said that 17 shops and five houses were damaged by the inferno caused by the explosion.
NSCDC spokesman Shehu in his account said that the incident occurred on Monday at about 9.00 p.m., after security operatives on stop-and search- in the area flagged down a truck conveying 25 gas cylinders.
He alleged that the driver of the truck refused to stop why being pursued by the operatives, resulting in one of the cylinders falling off the truck and catching fire immediately.
The spokesman added that the vehicle was coming from Tinkim town in Magarya LGA of Niger Republic and was heading toward Hadejia LGA of Jigawa.
He said that the victims were currently receiving treatment at the Babura General Hospital.
Similarly, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Lawan Shiisu, also confirmed the incident.
Shiisu said that the vehicle was being pursued by a team of operatives from the Nigerian Customs Border Drill No. 12, while transporting the gas from Niger Republic.
He added that 17 shops and five houses were damaged by the inferno caused by the explosion.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has teamed with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to tackle some of the criminal activities bedeviling the telecom industry, such as telecom equipment vandalism and fraudulent registration of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards among others.
Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, who addressed a gathering of senior management staff of NSCDC in the South West Zone, at an exclusive workshop organised by the Commission, hailed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) sealed between the agency and the Commission, for which the gathering was to explore how the Corps will deploy enabling laws, subsidiary legislations, and extant guidelines to arrest any form of criminality in the sector.
Danbatta, who was represented at the workshop by the Director, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement at the Commission, Ephraim Nwokonneya, said, over the years, the NCC has been working with relevant law enforcement agencies, and in particular the NSCDC, towards protecting telecom sector from all kinds of criminal behaviour.
“Through despicable activities that are criminal and totally at variance with national security concerns of government, the deviant elements in our midst have been acting to undermine efforts put in place to consolidate the gains of the sector,” the EVC said.
Danbatta declared that “These criminal activities include theft and vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure, the illegal use of fraudulently-registered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards, operating without license, illegal call masking, and so on.”
He said while the NSCDC officers have been of tremendous assistance, the objective of the workshop was to constantly engage and update them on new trends and existing regulations, requiring concerted efforts for their implementation towards enhancing sanity in the telecom sector.
Danbatta said the NSCDC and other agencies have done very well with the assistance of their personnel in carrying out raid exercises and mopping up fraudulently-registered SIM cards found in circulation, as well as in raising the banner of awareness on the need to protect critical national telecom infrastructure.
Some of the topical issues discussed at the workshop covered the activities of the Commission as presented by the relevant departments in the context of laws and other regulations, and in relation to the roles of NSCDC, as depicted in the presentation made by the NCC’s Head of Enforcement, Salisu Abdu, during the workshop.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has decorated 97 officers recently promoted at its FCT Command.
The Commandant General (CG), Ahmed Abubakar Audi, PhD, mni, gave the charge at the Corps National Headquarters, Abuja, during the symbolic decoration of some of the promoted officers.
He called on them to appraise their inputs so far in service with a view to contributing more to the growth of the Corps through positive attitudes and diligent implementation of its core mandate.
Represented by the Deputy Commandant General (DCG) in charge of Crisis and Disaster Management, Nnamdi Nwinyi, the CG described promotion as a privilege and not a right and encouraged those who could not make it this time not to be discouraged.
He explained that, the criteria for promotion apart from written examination is availability of vacancies and government’s financial capacity and budgetary provision for ministries, departments and agencies as promotion attracts commensurate pay rise.
He charged them not to be deterred but to continue to work hard as promotion is a continuous exercise and anyone who didn’t get now would surely get in subsequent exercise.
The Commandant General announced that the symbolic decoration exercise conducted at the Headquarters is to be replicated at the various State Commands and other formations of the Corps nationwide.
He appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for the support and motivations given the Corps through provision of equipment, noting that such gesture among others will definitely translate to effective service delivery.
The CG also commended the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aragbesola, for his tireless efforts towards ensuring high welfare standard for NSCDC personnel.
Responding on behalf of others who were symbolically decorated with their new ranks, Deputy Commandant of Corps, Okere Vincent, pledged that the promotion exercise is a motivation to function optimally and assured of more dedication than before.
The Commandant General reminded the promoted officers that, promotion comes from God, hence, they should see themselves as privileged.
He charged them that, to whom much is given, much is expected, therefore, they should not take the opportunity for granted nor see it as an avenue to look down on their colleagues who could not make it this time around, instead, they should be diligent, put in more hardwork and contribute their quota to the development of the service.
He explained that his administration inherited backlogs of stagnated officers and assured that gradually all personnel who have been static on one rank for a long time will have cause to smile in due course.
Speaking to TheNewsGuru, one of the promoted officers, Isah Abdulkadir expressed gratitude to the Corps for finding them worthy and expressed commitment to redoubling his efforts to the body.
He said his new position comes with more responsibilities and promised to live up to expectations.
In line with tackling oil theft in the country, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 501 suspected pipeline vandals and oil thieves, alongside destroyed 71 illegal refineries.
This was disclosed by NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Audi, at the inauguration of 93 operational vehicles for the corps by Interior Mianister Rauf Aregbesola, Thursday, in Abuja.
Audi said the figure represented some of the achievements of the corps between January and August.
The NSCDC boss said the specialised operational vehicles would be used to combat potential threats to national security arising from felonious acts.
He listed the nefarious acts as crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, smuggling, pipeline vandalism and related crimes within the coastal and offshore areas.
NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed AudiNSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Audi
Aregbesola urged the corps to remain intolerant of anything that poses a threat to the safety and peace of Nigerians.
“Utilise and maintain the vehicles to serve their purpose and ensure to train personnel to operate the vehicles,” he said.
Also, members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) protested yesterday in Abuja, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, and Warri, Delta State. Their grouse was the massive oil theft in the Niger Delta region.
The angry oil workers threatened a showdown with the Federal Government due to the economic implications the massive oil theft in the oil producing region was causing its members and fellow Nigerians.
PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo led the oil workers on a rally to the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
Osifo said the association had repeatedly tried to engage stakeholders in the last one year, to proffer solutions to the problem of oil theft and vandalism, but that the engagements had not yielded results.
Also, the NNPC yesterday called for the sensitisation and de-radicalisation of pipeline vandals to enable investors put their money in oil business in the country, especially in the Niger Delta region.
NNPC’s Group General Manager for Security, Abba-Gana Muhammed, said this while receiving the protesters at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on behalf of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the company.
He expressed appreciation to members of PENGASSAN, saying the NNPC boss was also doing his best to protect the pipelines and other oil installations.
Osifo urged President Muhammadu Buhari to give security chiefs a month’s deadline to make progress on investigating security outfits sent to the Niger Delta, and send those culpable for non-performance.
Also, Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said there was no justification in linking the military with oil theft, operation of illegal refineries and other forms of economic sabotage in the Niger Delta region.
The DHQ was reacting to allegation that some military personnel were invlolved in oil theft in the Niger Delta region.
It said troops were taking enormous risk working in the highly hazardous terrain of the region to protect oil installations and deny oil thieves, vandals and other criminals within the maritime domain the freedom to operate.
The Director Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor said the soldiers drafted to the oil producing region were doing their best and achieving good results.
Akpor said: “When you see the terrain where the oil is produced, you will ask, you are the stakeholders in the production and security of the oil and gas. We need to answer that question so that when you’re writing, you will be writing from the point of knowledge.
“This is because the oil companies are involved, the soldiers are involved and the communities are also involved. But they are only making the military the cannon folder. The military is the weeping child.
“If you’re going to protest that soldiers have not done their job, know that soldiers have done their job. The volume of crude oil that has been recovered shows that they are doing their job. The recent arrest of a super tanker that could have taken out 3 million barrels of crude oil unaccounted for also shows that the military is doing their job.”
The Director of Defence Media Operations (DMO), Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, said troops of Operation Delta Safe had continued the clampdown on oil thieves in the last two weeks.
The military media chief said oil products valued at N1,235,624,462.45 were recovered within the time under review.
Also, PENGASSAN’s Port Harcourt Zone yesterday protested oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region.
Members of the association started their procession from Isaac Boro Park in the Rivers State capital and ended it at the Police Command headquarters.
Their Zonal Chairman Peter Onita said: “We have seen bigger international oil companies (IOCs) that produce more than 30,000 barrels of oil and what will be seen is 3,000 barrels per day.
“As an association, we have been engaging and we will continue to engage the government in the interest to make sure that oil theft and vandalism of oil facilities are put to a stop.
“Today, the OPEC production for Nigeria is put at 1.62 million barrels per day (bpd). As a country, we have the capacity to produce 2 million bpd but because the oil theft, it is difficult. For close to a year now, we have been struggling to meet our quota. Because of this theft, IOCs are leaving the country.”
Rivers State Police Commissioner Eboka Friday said: “The Federal and state governments are not happy with the ugly trend. Since early this year, the governor, in particular, has been very vibrant to ensure that this menace stops.
“Remember early this year, I followed the governor to the bushes to destroy illegal oil refineries. He did not stop there. After that, you realise that the soot reduced drastically.
“On August 19, the governor set up a task force, comprising of the Army, Civil Defence, and the police to fight from all front the war against oil theft.”
Also, hundreds of PENGASSAN members in Warri, Delta State, yesterday protested increasing pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the Niger Delta.
Carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, the oil workers besieged the Delta State Governor’s Office Annexe in Warri around 8 a.m and tabled their grievances.
Their Chairman Audu Oshiokhamele said: “Some companies producing crude oil told us that any time they mine crude oil, before it gets to the reservoir for storage, it’s only water that’s left. And it’s affecting the output of crude production in Nigeria.
“We are telling the government to prosecute those that have been arrested. This is because we know that without government’s involvement in this matter, it will be difficult for the thieves to continue their business.”
Also, PENGASSAN Group Chairman at NNPC Limited in Warri, Prince Emea Okorie, regretted that Nigeria could no longer meet its OPEC target of 1.8 million barrels per day.
He said the country is “presently struggling to meet 1 million barrels per day due to theft”.
Addressing the gathering, the Director at Governor’s Office in Annexe Warri, Mrs. Violet Onowakpokpo, assured the protesters that their grievances would be conveyed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
The Nigeria Security And Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has dissolved all its anti-vandal team across the country in view of the continuous cases of oil theft.
The Corps also ordered the removal of all road blocks mounted by personnel of the anti-vandal unit until a new team is constituted.
The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi gave the directives during a meeting with top management and States Commandants of the Corps to appraise the performance of the Corps, in Abuja.
He said the decision followed insinuations in some quarters that members of some security agencies were involved in aiding oil theft, and that some of their officers are not carrying out their assignment satisfactorily.
Dr. Audi maintained that the Federal Government was concern about the growing cases of oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the country in spite of security presence.
The NSCDC Commandant General maintained that the Corps will reconstitute another anti-vandal unit with injection of new blood soonest in-line with the directive of the Minister of Interior to put an end to the menace and its attendant economic loss.
Unidentified gunmen have killed an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the Ikole Local Government area of Ekiti State.
It was gathered that the incident occurred Saturday evening along Oke Ako – Ajowa Road, in Oke Ako Ekiti in Ikole Local government area.
According to the report, the officer, who was travelling from Ado Ekiti to his home town, was attacked in his vehicle, and shot dead while the gunmen kidnapped his younger brother and two children with him in the car.
Other sources claimed the gunmen whisked away two persons whose identities they could not ascertain while another occupant of the vehicle escaped from being kidnapped.
A source, who said hunters in the neighbouring communities had started combing the bush for the possibility of apprehending the gunmen and setting the captives free, said, “As I speak with you, those kidnapped are still with them in the bush.
“The NSCDC officer was shot dead in the car. Other persons were taken away, Some people say those with the gunmen are two, while others say three persons were kidnapped. To the best of my knowledge, the kidnappers are yet to make contact or demand ransom,” he said.
The source added that a member of the Oke Ako community, who was passing by on a motorbike at the time of the incident escaped death by the whiskers as the gunmen fired gunshots at him.
The Regent of Oke Ako, Princess Tinuade Ogunbiyi, who said she got the information that somebody was shot dead on the road while others were kidnapped, said, “I do not know exactly what happened yet, but I do not know what to say again. It is the same thing repeating itself on a daily basis. I am at loss over what to say”.
NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, Tolu Afolabi, who confirmed the incident, said, “We lost one of our officers.
” We were told he was shot en route to the town and unconfirmed reports have it that two of his brothers were abducted.
” We are still waiting for reliable information.
“Meanwhile, the investigation of the state command will begin this night. What is confirmed right now is that we lost him,” the NSCDC spokesperson said.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has condemned the alleged attack of popular gospel musician, Yinka Ayefele by one of its officers.
TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls that Ayefele who was in Ekiti to entertain some guests was allegedly assaulted by an officer of NSCDC.
It was gathered that the randy officer allegedly attempted to take money from Ayefele’s car.
Sources said that the officer allegedly hit Ayefele in the mouth and also threatened to shoot him for refusing to give them money.
Recall also that the incident occurred in Iloro Ekiti in Ekiti state.
NSCDC has however condemned the alleged attack.
Director of Public Relations of NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday added that the NSCDC do not in anyway condone any act of recklessness.
He maintained that the NSCDC will not allow any of its officers to assault on any individual or group of persons.
He spoke further by saying that the Corps wishes to tender an unreserved apology Ayefele and his followers.
Odumosu while speaking further insisted that the Commandant General has ordered that all concerned officers be identified and summoned immediately to the National Headquarters.
He added that necessary disciplinary action would be taken against the officers.
He said, “The Corps under the leadership of Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has zero tolerance for corruption, indiscipline and any atrocious behaviour inimical to the safety and security of the citizens of this country.
“We do not in anyway condone any act of recklessness, impudence or assault on any individual or group of persons nor Infringement on the fundamental human rights of citizens whether highly or lowly placed.
“Consequently, the Commandant General has ordered that all concerned officers be identified and summoned immediately to the National Headquarters for necessary disciplinary action”.
The Civil Defence, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDIPB) has approved the promotion of 5,010 officers and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to various ranks.
The commandant general of NSCDC, Ahmed Audi, said the promotion was timely, according to a statement by the corps spokesperson, Olusola Odumosu.
Mr Audi noted that it was imperative for dedicated and deserving personnel to be promoted according to increased productivity and development of manpower.
He added that from 5,010 upgraded operatives, 4,494 were promoted, while 516 were upgraded by conversion to assistant superintendent of corps II (ASC II).
A breakdown of the promotion showed that 116 assistant commandants of corps (ACC) got promoted to the deputy commandant of corps (DCC) rank.
“Three hundred and sixty-two chief superintendents of corps (CSC) were promoted to the rank of assistant commandant of corps (ACC).
Three hundred and ninety-nine superintendents of corps (SC) were moved to the rank of chief superintendent of corps (CSC),” he stated.
“Five hundred and fifty deputy superintendents of corps (DSC) got promoted to the rank of superintendent of corps.”
A further breakdown showed that 888 assistant superintendents of corps I (ASC I) were promoted to deputy superintendents of corps (DSC), and 1191 assistant superintendents of corps II (ASC II) got promoted to the rank of assistant superintendent of corps (I).
In addition, 988 inspectors of corps II (IC II) were promoted to assistant superintendents of corps II (ASC II).
The commandant general charged the newly promoted officers to justify their promotion by contributing to the growth of the corps through hard work, renewed zeal, vigour, loyalty to service and patriotism to the nation.
Three hundred and ninety-nine superintendents of corps (SC) were moved to the rank of chief superintendent of corps (CSC),” he stated.
“Five hundred and fifty deputy superintendents of corps (DSC) got promoted to the rank of superintendent of corps.”
A further breakdown showed that 888 assistant superintendents of corps I (ASC I) were promoted to deputy superintendents of corps (DSC), and 1191 assistant superintendents of corps II (ASC II) got promoted to the rank of assistant superintendent of corps (I).
In addition, 988 inspectors of corps II (IC II) were promoted to assistant superintendents of corps II (ASC II).
The commandant general charged the newly promoted officers to justify their promotion by contributing to the growth of the corps through hard work, renewed zeal, vigour, loyalty to service and patriotism to the nation.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says the commission is ready to strengthen collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in tackling illegal mining and non-payment of royalties by miners in Kwara.
The Zonal Commander, Ilorin Zonal Command of the commission, Mr Michael Nzekwe, said this in Ilorin on Friday when he received the commandant of the NSCDC, Mr Ibrahim Muhammed.
Nzekwe said that the NSCDC was a strategic partner in the fight against corruption, saying it is part of their responsibility to check corruption and preserve sources through which government generate revenue.
He expressed delight over the cordial relationship between the commission and the corps, particularly the recent deployment of some of the personnel of the corps to assist the commission in guarding some of its forfeited assets spread across the three states under the command.
“One of the critical areas that we will want to seek your collaboration is in the area of illegal mining. As agencies of government, part of our responsibilities is to check corruption and preserve sources through which government generates revenue for the wellbeing of its citizenry.
“We cannot sit back and watch people divert or pilfer what is meant for government to personal use.
“The law made it compulsory for miners to pay royalties to the Federal Government. The federal government is losing a lot to activities of the illegal miners not only in Kwara but in the nation generally.
“If due processes are followed and royalties are paid, not only will the federal government benefit, the state government is equally entitled to 13 per cent derivation of the royalty paid, to cater for and to its people,” Nzekwe said.
He described the refusal of some of the miners to pay royalties as “economy sabotage”, saying that the agency will torchlight the activities of the illegal miners in Kwara, Ekiti and Kogi States, which are under zonal command, with a view to bringing perpetrators to justice.
Responding, the Kwara NSCDC boss, commended EFCC for promoting inter-agency synergy in the fight against corruption.
According to Muhammed, the visit is part of familiarisation with military and para-military formations following his recent transfer to Kwara.
While also calling for further ties between the EFCC and the NSCDC, he said the collaboration became imperative as “no agency can do it alone”, he said.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that NSCDC intercepted six tankers and articulated trucks loaded with stolen and illegally refined petroleum products suspected to be automated gasoline oil.
NSCDC spokesperson in the state, Emeka Okwechime, confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday.
He said men of the Special Intelligence Squad of the NSCDC burst into the suspects’ secret loading point at Odorubu waterside, in the Patani Local Government Area of the state.
He added that the suspected vandals used a tanker to barricade the only road leading to the illegal loading point to prevent security operatives from gaining access to the premises.
Okwechime said, “The officers engaged the services of six truck drivers, two auto electricians and a tow truck, which towed away the heavily loaded 120-litres capacity truck used by the crude oil thieves to barricade the road leading to the illegal loading point.
“Consequently, the four suspects were arrested in a separate operation in Warri with a Toyota Camry blue car with number plate BMA 786 TN and a Toyota Sienna with number plate KSF 107 CD, both loaded with illegally refined petroleum product suspected to be AGO concealed in 25-litre polythene sacks numbering about 300.”
Okwechime identified the names of the suspects as Clement Mike, 34; Tobore Morgan, 39; Chinwe Ikpeamachukwu, 40, and Jeff Oluchi, 29, now at large.
He said the suspects were currently undergoing investigation and would be charged to court accordingly to serve as a deterrent to others.
NSCDC is a paramilitary institution in Nigeria that was established in May 1967 by the Nigerian Government, with the act of the National Assembly.
The act was amended in 2007, to enhance the statutory duties of the corp.
It was commissioned to provide measures against threats and any form of attack or disaster against the nation and its citizenry.
The corps is statutorily empowered by lay Act No. 2 of 2003 and amended by Act 6 of 4 June 2007.
The Corps is empowered to institute legal proceedings by or in then and of the Attorney General of the Federation in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against any person or persons suspected to have committed an offence, maintain an armed squad in order to bear firearms among others to strengthen the corps in the discharge of its statutory duties.
The NSCDC was first introduced in May 1967 during the Nigerian Civil War within the then Federal Capital Territory of Lagos for the purpose of sensitization and protection of the civil populace. It was then known as Lagos Civil Defence Committee.
It later metamorphosed into the present-day NSCDC in 1970. On inception, the Corps had the objective of carrying out some educational and enlightenment campaigns in and around the Federal Capital of Lagos to sensitize members of the civil populace on enemy attacks and how to save themselves from danger as most Nigerians living in and around Lagos territory then had little or no knowledge about war and its implications.
Members of the Committee deemed it important to educate through electronic and print media on how to guide themselves during air raids, bomb attacks, identify bombs and how to dive into trenches during a bomb blast.
In 1984, the Corps was transformed into a National security outfit and in 1988, there was a major re-structuring of the Corps that led to the establishment of Commands throughout the Federation, including Abuja, and the addition of special functions by the Federal Government.
On 28 June 2003, an Act to give statutory backing to the NSCDC passed by the National Assembly was signed into law by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, the former president and Commander in chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
