The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, says the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has arrested 2,254 vandals, oil bunkerers,in the last one year.
The minister, made this known during a High Level Media parley organised by the ministry to mark his one year in office on Friday in Abuja, that
550 of those arrested were under, prosecution and 122 convicted.
Tunji-Ojo said that in the Federal Government’s fight against vandalism and the protection of critical infrastructure, the NSCDC had been relentless in tackling the menace of headlong.
“Over the past year, we arrested 2,254 vandals and oil bunkerers, with 550 currently under prosecution and 122 convictions already secured.
“In addition, the NSCDC disrupted organised crime networks by destroying 150 illegal refineries and 64 illegal oil dumps,”Tunji-Ojo said.
On the reform of the private security sector, Tunji-Ojo said that the reform had so far yielded impressive results.
He added that 115 licensed companies were now legally operating, and in the process of licensing an additional 178 companies.
“Moreover, a total of 3,394 private security guards have undergone rigorous training, while the sector generated an impressive revenue.
“In alignment with our economic diversification goals, we launched the Mine Marshal initiative in partnership with the Ministry of Mines and Steel to combat illegal mining and boost national revenue.
“This is just one example of our commitments to reducing dependency on the oil industry,”he said.
The minister said that the personnel of the service had, over time, received extensive training to maintain combat readiness in the face of evolving security challenges.
“Over the past year, 21,383 senior officers and 2,551 junior officers were promoted, while 818 junior officers were upgraded to senior officer cadre.
