Secret Reporters No place to hide
Secrets Reporters
Reports of uniform rascality, abuse of office, and corruption against Mr Mike Okogbe Asibor, the Head of Anti-Vandal of the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Akwa Ibom State Command, are rife within Akwa Ibom State and beyond. Despite separate petitions and complaints of gross misconduct against the officer, some reported by the media and being wanted for questioning by other security agencies like the police and DSS, the Management of NSCDC has continued to indulge a high level of infamy capable of casting aspersions on its corporate image.
INDICTED BY INDUSTRY PLAYERS IN THE PETROLEUM SECTOR
Several industry players in the petroleum downstream sector, especially filling station owners, have complained bitterly, several times, and petitioned Mike Asibor for harassment, extortion, corruption, and compromise. Sadly, the management of NSCDC suppresses the allegations, which suggests that the corps approves of his illegalities. The height of it was when his oppressive disposition forced key players in the petroleum sector in Akwa Ibom State to down tools for days in mid-2024, which led to an acute shortage of petroleum products in the entire state and forced the State Governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, to personally intervene. The Governor had to sack one of his aides who was complicit, but NSCDC did not take action against Mr Asibor, whose involvement in the crisis was that of an undisputed ringleader.
Our source stated emphatically that, consequently, NSCDC, whose core mandate revolves around protecting oil pipelines and enforcing laws against oil thieves, was not invited by the Governor for the reconciliation meeting with stakeholders and security agencies for obvious reasons and was initially not included in the petroleum taskforce committee. The source went further to state that the chairman and other members of the committee have expressed their displeasure to the Civil Defence Authority in the state about the conduct of Mike Asibor, from several complaints the committee has received, and have objected to him being sent to represent Civil Defence in the committee. Subsequently, he was permanently barred from the State Petroleum Steering Committee. Despite this, the organization continues to indulge him.
COLLUDING WITH BUNKERERS, CONFLICT WITH OTHER SECURITY AGENCIES
There are reports of high-level connivance of Mr Asibor with bunkerers in the state where he receives a settlement/bribe and, in turn, turns a blind eye on their illegal activities. It is even rumoured that when other squads not under his command arrest suspects, he uses his influence with the State Commander to secure the release of the suspects and exhibits, and gets paid huge cash for his service. He is believed to use a particular POS operator not based in Akwa Ibom State to receive monies paid by bunkerers as a decoy. The POS name is Okoduwa Oyakhilomen. This is said to be a recurring decimal whereby arrested bunkerers just call him whenever they are in trouble to secure their release; an action that many officers are uncomfortable with, but can’t do much because of his high influence and connection in the force both in Akwa Ibom State and especially in Abuja.
Another source narrated how his excesses have caused fracas between the Civil Defence and the Nigerian Army and other security agencies. He said that the Army authority had stopped handing over suspects and exhibits arrested for illegal oil bunkering to the Civil Defence, despite being the lead organization with the power to prosecute this crime. The source added that since Asibor became head of Anti-vandal for almost 2 years, there has been lots of conflicts and minimal results owing to his greed and corruption and called for transparent investigation by anti-graft agencies on both his actions and that of the agency concerning illegal bunkering arrests and cash flows especially through his POS agent(s).
Our source revealed further that his conduct has caused a serious rupture in the cordial relationship that exists between Civil Defense and other security agencies like the SSS, as his misdeeds have been a huge source of concern. More worrisome is the fact that all entreaties have met a strong rebuff from the Civil Defence authority in the State, which seems to back his hooliganism. This medium also has it on good authority that the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Internal Security has expressed strong displeasure with the conduct of Mr Asibor, and considers him a security threat.
Recall that Mr Asibor was wanted by the Nigerian Police for his involvement in the shooting of Mr Aniefiok John Peter and Marshall John Peter, two Nsit Ubium-based businessmen in 2023. As it is becoming typical of NSCDC, he was shielded, as reported in the INK NEWSPAPER of December 2023. And Akwa Ibomites cannot forget ‘Horror in Atan Offot’ in a hurry, where Civil Defence personnel went on a shooting spree on civilians.
Weighty allegations of impropriety, corruption, abuse of power, bribery, attempted murder, uniform rascality and collusion/connivance with illegal oil bunkerers have been leveled against Mike Asibor. This medium have it on good authority that several petitions have also been written against him, but all get suppressed by NSCDC leadership in Akwa Ibom State.
Attempts to get the reaction of SC Friday Ekerete, the PRO of Civil Defense in the state, proved abortive, as he did not pick up his calls, nor respond to the messages sent to his known phone number.
