Army, NSCDC clash over seizure of two petrol laden trucks in Bayelsa

The !6 Brigade of Nigerian Army in Yenagoa and Bayesa command of Nigerian Security and Civil Corps (NSCDC) are currently engaged in rivalry over two tankers conveying suspected diverted petrol.

NSCDC had on Friday impounded the trucks along Ogbia-Nembe road and was taking them to its command headquarters when soldiers of 16 Brigade intercepted and took the truck to 16 brigade premises in Yenagoa.

The clash resulted to the soldiers who outnumbered the civil defence personnel to take possession of the truck and compelled the NSCDC personnel to take to their heels.

While officials of NSCDC maintained that it was their mandate under the law to handle oil theft, check diversion of petroleum products, the soldiers claimed that the NSCDC operation was suspicious.

Reacting to the development on Monday, Mr Godwin Nwachukwu ,  Bayelsa Commandant of NSCDC said  in Yenagoa  that the two security agencies were already in talks to resolve the face off.

“Our personnel and soldiers had an encounter in the field but the leadership of the sister security agencies have stepped in and maturity has come to play and we are jointly handling the case.

“Our mandate is very clear and unambiguous when it comes to protecting oil and gas facilities, curbing oil theft, and checking diversion of petroleum products. What happened was unfortunate, but due to the excellent relations we have it is being resolved.

“We are working with the Army and investigation is already underway,” Nwachukwu said.

Maj. Danjuma Danjuma, Spokesman of  16 Brigade Nigerian Army said on Monday that the Army intercepted the trucks under suspicious circumstances as the community folks and NSCDC were engaged I arguments when soldiers came.

He said that samples of the products were undergoing laboratory tests to ascertain whether the products were illegally refined or duly sourced from NNPC as claimed by owners of the products.

                                                                                                                            

He said that until the suspicions were cleared, the trucks would remain with the Brigade.

“The trucks are safe and test results are expected in a few days,” Danjuma said.

However, there may be fuel shortages in Bayelsa as the various unions in the fuel distribution chain including tanker drivers have ceased t supply products until the two trucks were released..

 

The drivers are also being in custody at the 16 Brigade headquarters in Yenagoa.