Commander-General of the Inspector- General (IGP) Special Task Force on Pipeline Vandalism, Usman Jibrin, on Tuesday vowed to deal with perpetrators of the act.
He warmed those who have vowed to destroy the nation’s common wealth to desist from acts capable of bringing down the economy of the nation, warning that anyone caught would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
Jibrin, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), gave the warning during his maiden visit to the Warri unit of the taskforce attached to the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Warri Depot.
Jibrin who spoke to newsmen after a brief meeting with men of the Warri Unit, said no effort would be spared in his quest to ensure that pipeline vandalism became a thing of the past in the country.
“Those who are vandalising the resources of this country definitely are not going to have it in an easy way henceforth. The illegal bunkers are in for hard time, it is not going to be businesses as usual.
“We cannot continue to blame the government, we are the government and we have the right to continue to protect government properties,” he said.
The commander-general who assumed duty recently advised his officers and men to be committed to the mandate of protecting lives and property, warning that any of his men caught hobnobbing with criminals would be shown the way out.
“As you are aware, I have just been appointed into this office, so I need to familiarise myself with the locations and the officers who are working in this unit.
“I told them to do their job diligently. We have the mandate to protect lives and property: this is the primary duty of every policeman.
“This is what we are telling them that they should not play with that mandate: we must fulfil it. We have work to do and we must do it to the best of our ability,” he said.
Seven suspected crude oil thieves comprising five males and two females were also paraded before the commander-general and his entourage.
The Warri Unit Commander, SP Mohammed EL-Yakubu, with the visitors, thereafter proceeded to a jetty to inspect the confiscated boats and the tents of the taskforce.
