Secret Reporters No place to hide
Secret Reporters
The activities of Anti-vandal squad of NSCDC in Akwa Ibom State leaves much to be desired as the commander and his boys have been accused of going about breaking into people’s homes, extorting money and forcefully stealing petroleum products.
According to one of the victims who squealed to our reporter, the commander, AC Jeremiah Adole and his squad of illegal operatives are in the habit of storming people’s yards in a commando style to threaten, extort and eventually steal drums of Kerosene and Diesel all in the name of impounding, which they inturn sell to another operator. He said their illegality has become the talk of town as they have continually terrorise Akwa Ibom State and Akwa Ibomites in the last 4 months, enriching themselves criminally without anyone calling them to order.
The informant who pleaded anonymity cited an incident at Upenekang in Ibeno LGA where they looted an operator’s shop at Apostolic Road. He went further to narrate how similar incidences happened at Nkemba Street, Nwaniba Road, Umotong Road in Ikot Ekpene, Itu and Ikono LGA.
The illegal operation according to one of the victims is usually led by one Michael Asibor. They loot, and extort without making any arrest, and without incidenting all the drums of petroleum products carted away at NSCDC headquarters.
The attached secretly shot video captures one of the illegal operations.
When asked if the victims are operating illegally, the source said they buy at cheaper rate and resell. “The problem is that we are not buoyant enough to fulfill DPR requirement for license. We are black marketers. They also enter filling station and harass operators up and down. Very soon, gbege go bust”.
Our investigative reporter, Julius Ekpotu visited the Civil Defence headquarters at Clement Isong and had covert interaction with some officers. It was discovered that the commander, Jeremiah Adole who struts in the command like an emperor has not effected a single arrest or impounded any truck, drums or gallons of petroleum product this year. This supports the claims by our informant and presents a contrast to the hundreds of drums of petroleum products his squad is accused to have taken away in different illegal operations. It is said that rather than arrest or impound, he collects money.
One of the personnel described him as very rich and influential. “If you want to know the kain money wey him get (sic), get his BVN and you will be shocked at the millions that moves in and out of his accounts in a month. As a civil servant, him fit explain where he get all that money from?” He queried!
He is quoted to always brag that he is a CG boy, which suggests that he has the backings of the leadership of the corps in this illegality.
These are weighty allegations of complicity in acts of economic sabotage, which NSCDC is supposed to fight. One expects the NSCDC not to sweep this allegations under the carpet. Other security agencies like the Nigeria Army and Navy were recently accused of being key players in illegal bunkering business in the Niger-delta.
It remains to be seen what steps will be taken to address these allegations.
All efforts to get the reactions of the PRO, Mr Friday Ekerete on the allegations of corruption, extortion, stealing and acts of economic sabotage committed by Mr Jeremiah Adole and his squad proved abortive as he did not respond to text messages sent to his phone number.
