PURPORTED ARREST OF IPMAN MEMBER: NSCDC RIVERS COMMAND TELLS NIGERIANS NOT TO FALL FOR ‘GRANDIOSE ATTEMPT TO DENIGRATE SERVICE’
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
Commandant, Rivers State Command, NSCDC, Commandant Michael Besong Ogar
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State Command has described as ‘defamatory and libelous publication’ the report of an online news channel which alleged that the security agency arrested an oil marketer. This rebuttal was made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP by the NSCDC Rivers PRO, DSC Olufemi Ayodele in a press release.
According to the Command’s official release, ‘The attention of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State command has been drawn to a defamatory and libellous publication by SaharaReporters, dated 5th September, 2022, with the caption ” Nigeria Civil Defence Corps Arrests Oil Marketer Who Exposed Extortion Of Millions Of Naira By Lawless Personnel”. It is imperative to point out that the report about the purported arrest circulating in the media space was not only misleading, but a grandiose attempt to denigrate the service and the positive impact it is making in the society.’
‘It is also a calculated effort to change public perception about the Rivers State Command and dent the image of the Corps and the reputation it has built with dedication, diligence and commitment to the mandate of the NSCDC in Safeguarding all Critical National Assets and Infrastructure as revealed by our unrelenting war against Oil theft, pipelines vandalism and illegal dealings in petroleum products in Rivers State. Recall that the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola had earlier directed the immediate reconstitution of the Antivandal 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 therefore prejudicial, misleading and unprofessional on the part of the Journalist who published the story with allegations that Mr Miyer was threatened, arrested and detained by the NSCDC officers for releasing a video footage showing some of our personnel extorting money from him. Obviously, this action is a reckless falsehood in all its intent and purposes was meant to deplete the public confidence in the Corps. For the purpose of emphasis, the NSCDC Rivers State Command has over the years built a reputation and unbroken record of massively arresting and prosecuting oil thieves while proceeds of contents impounded and mode of conveyance from illegal dealings in petroleum products are remitted to the Federal Government coffers after the process of forfeitures are completed in agreement with judgment gotten at the Court of competent jurisdiction’, NAOSNP gathered.
“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.’
On the successes made by NSCDC, Rivers State, DSC Olufemi Ayodele shared: ‘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. Let me further reiterate that the NSCDC Commandant General is currently putting adequate modalities in place to fish out the bad eggs and subsequently avoid loopholes; I hereby warn all perpetrators of heinous crime such as illegal dealings in petroleum products and vandalism of oil pipelines to desist from such nefarious activities. I can assure you that the reconstitution of the new Antivandal Teams will not exceed this week as we are fully committed and ready to rid the Nation from the hands of economic saboteurs”
