By Shadrach Okon
NSCDC Public Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom SC Friday Ekerette has offered insight to the misunderstanding that occurred between the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Akwa Ibom State Command and the Department of State Security Service (DSS) during the month of March.
NSCDC Public Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom SC Friday Ekerette while addressing newsmen recently in Akwa Ibom State said the misunderstanding came as a result of false information transmitted to DSS by the Chairman of the Petroleum Monitoring Committee in Akwa Ibom State, alleging that NSCDC officials were escorting a truck conveying illegally acquired product.
The statement narrated the bone of contention:
“Sometimes in March 2025, the command received intel on the movement of a truck suspected to be conveying illegally acquired petroleum product from Rivers State. Our Anti-vandal squad checkpoint on the Akwa Ibom end of the East-West Road was placed on alert. The team apprehended the suspects and impounded the truck. The Anti-vandal Commander then alerted the Navy in Ikot Abasi and Defence Intelligence of the arrest and sent a team from NSCDC headquarters to take the suspects and evacuate the truck to NSCDC Exhibit Yard in Itam for further investigations.
“Somehow, an informant transmitted false information to the Chairman of the Petroleum Monitoring Committee in Akwa Ibom State, alleging that NSCDC officials were escorting a truck conveying illegally acquired product, and he immediately passed on the same message to DSS without verifying the authenticity of the information. Acting on the above information, officials of the DSS intercepted NSCDC officials moving the truck to our Exhibit Yard, and there was obstruction of lawful duty and a standoff, as NSCDC men were accused of escorting the truck out of the state to avoid arrest, which left the men perplexed. To resolve the misunderstanding, DSS officials were asked to follow with their vehicle to ensure that the truck was actually headed for the NSCDC Exhibit Yard.
“When the chairman arrived at the location where the truck was intercepted, he ‘ordered’ NSCDC to release the truck to him as the chairman of PPMC. But SC Mike Asibor opposed him vehemently and informed him in very clear terms that the NSCDC is the lead agency with prosecutorial powers in matters involving illegalities in petroleum matters, and even the committee he chairs is expected to hand over any arrests and exhibits impounded to the NSCDC for diligent investigation and prosecution.
“In the end, both NSCDC and DSS conducted independent investigations and sent samples of the product for forensic analysis at the NNPC lab in Port Harcourt. The report came out negative from the separate investigations done by the two agencies, and the truck was jointly released to the owner in the spirit of synergy.
Addressing the issue of Asibor’s exclusion from the Petroleum Product Monitoring Committee (PPMC) and a request for the nomination of another officer to represent NSCDC in the committee, the spokesperson said the subject of contention was duly resolved after a joint and transparent investigation.
Ekerete noted that the allegations against its Anti-vandal Commander were maliciously intended due to his unbending disposition in the discharge of his official duties, adding that the command was satisfied with his tenacious service in fighting illegal bunkering and other forms of vandalism.
His words: “The Command is satisfied with his services. The State Commandant stands by him; he believes in his capacity and capability to deliver in the said assignment. Asibor has done so much, and we believe that the report was done out of malicious intent.”
“The claim that the officer is wanted by other security agencies is also false, as he interfaces with every security agency in the state almost on a daily basis by the nature of his job schedule.
“The claim that industry players are against him is also false, as he not only enjoys a cordial working relationship but was given an award of gallantry by stakeholders in the petroleum industry in Akwa Ibom State for his efforts in combating illegal oil business in the state.
“Finally, it is important to inform members of the public that ‘bunkering of petroleum products’ is not a crime. It is illegal bunkering of petroleum products that is a crime, and NSCDC will not relent in its resolve to continue to fight illegal bunkering and other forms of illegalities in the sector.”
