The Federal Government has deployed 10,000 Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel to curb further attacks on oil pipelines following the backdrop of the blasts at oil installations in Rivers State between Sunday and Tuesday.
Afolabi Babawale, an NSCDC spokesperson, confirmed the deployment of anti-vandal operatives to reporters on Wednesday, saying the operatives were tasked with preserving key infrastructure and avoiding pipeline vandalism, particularly in Rivers State.
“The NSCDC hereby warns against destruction and vandalism of critical national assets and infrastructure across the Niger Delta, as over 10,000 operatives have been deployed to collaborate with other security agencies to provide adequate peace and security of lives and property,” Babawale said.
This happened as opposition lawmakers and organised labour opposed President Bola Tinubu’s imposition of emergency rule in Rivers State.
In a national broadcast on Tuesday, Tinubu announced the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and the Rivers State assembly members.
He also appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd.) as the state’s sole administrator.
Ibas, who was sworn in on Wednesday at the Aso Villa, will lead the state for the first six months.
Prior to the imposition of the emergency rule, the political situation in the state was tense, resulting in three explosions in two days.
The explosions came after Ijaw groups threatened to disrupt oil production and damage the economy if parliament impeached Fubara.
On Monday, the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly, loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike, issued a misconduct notice listing 19 breaches committed by Fubara, paving the way for impeachment.
An explosion occurred on Sunday at the Trans Niger Pipeline in Aluu, in the state’s Ikwerre Local Government Area, before the governor and his deputy were served with the warning.
On Wednesday, security personnel discovered a corpse at the scene of the explosion, and a suspect was apprehended in connection with it.
According to an official, the suspect was apprehended after receiving credible intelligence from Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited’s covert team operating in Aluu.
The PINL staff member, simply identified as Ebikeme, said, “On Sunday, the 16th day of March 2025, there was a blast on the TNP Pipeline Right of Way in Aluu – Zone 5, and a suspected vandal was found dead at the site of the incident from the effects of the blast.
“Upon further investigation, a suspected vandal was apprehended in connection with the incident. The suspect is currently in the custody of the Nigeria Police while further investigation is being carried out to nab all the perpetrators.”
Speaking about the NSCDC’s deployment of 10,000 armed personnel to combat pipeline vandalism, Babawale stated that commanders across the country are on high alert to protect the nation’s critical assets, particularly in the Niger Delta.
Babawale stated, “The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has a statutory mandate as the lead agency in the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure.
“In this regard, the corps across the federation have placed the commands and formations on red alert to forestall all acts of economic sabotage, pipeline vandalism and destruction of government utilities.
“However, it is a notable fact that no security agency has the monopoly of strategies in tackling crime and criminalities; hence, the NSCDC is working in collaboration with other sister security agencies in the protection of lives and property.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")