Oil Theft: NSCDC solicits support of Bayelsa monarchs

Abiodun Oba

Traditional rulers in Bayelsa have been called upon to support Bayelsa State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in its fight against oil theft, pipeline vandalism and allied criminalities.

Mrs Christiana Abikam-Omanu, State Commandant of NSCDC in Bayelsa, made the appeal when she visited the chairman of the Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council, King Alfred Diete-Spiff on Wednesday in Yenagoa.

According to Abiakam-Omanu, monarchs are critical to the security of their domains as they play important roles in the lives of their subjects, as well as shape public opinions in their communities.

She said the Command looked forward to a robust relationship with the traditional rulers to assist the corps in the advocacy against oil theft, illegal refinery of stolen crude and sabotage on oil infrastructure.

Responding, King Diete-Spiff observed that the NSCDC had lived up to expectation in the protection of critical national assets and oil facilities in the Niger Delta region.

He said the traditional rulers in the state would support the NSCDC and other security agencies in making Bayelsa and the Niger Delta region safer for economic activities to thrive.

Meanwhile, Abiakam-Omanu has sought the collaboration of sister security agencies in Bayelsa State to enable the NSCDC achieve its core mandate.

She paid a courtesy visit to the Bayelsa Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr Chapp Jumbo where she assured officers and men of both services on the need to cooperate and fight crime in the state.

Jumbo thanked the Commandant for the visit and promised that both agencies would collaborate to fight crime and ensure the state was safe.

The NSCDC Commandant’s visits were part of efforts to familiarise herself with the security formations in the state since her transfer to Bayelsa in June.