The Akwa Ibom State Command of NSCDC is taken aback by the report of cover up and shielding of officers from investigation levelled against it in a publication by Secrets Reporters of 1st May, 2025 on its news website. The report went further to make spurious allegations against Superintendent Michael Asibor.

The Command wishes to state unequivocally that the report is false, misleading and contains half-truths. The NSCDC does not condone illegalities perpetrated by officers and men in its ranks; as the Corps has zero tolerance for indiscipline.

Since Secrets Reporters could not get NSCDC’S side to the report to enable it give a balanced report, it is pertinent to use this medium to set the records straight.

To start with, State Commandant of NSCDC, CC Bashar Kefas Hussaini assumed leadership of NSCDC Akwa Ibom State Command precisely on the 16th day of September, 2024. And from that time till now, he has not received a single petition against Superintendent Michael Asibor, the Command’s head of Anti-vandal operations, let alone suppressing it to cover-up as alleged in the publication. The Command wishes to state that anyone who has written a petition against the officer in question can resend it to the State Command headquarters; as the State Commandant has promised to give it expeditious treatment and make the outcome known to the public.

Furthermore, though the State Commandant received a letter of exclusion of SC Mike Asibor from the Petroleum Product Monitoring Committee PPMC and a request for the nomination of another officer to represent NSCDC in the committee, the subject of contention was duly resolved after a joint and transparent Investigation. The facts of the subject of dispute are as follows:

Sometimes in March 2025, the command received an 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 Defense 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 a false information to Mr. Godwin Ekpo, the Chairman of Petroleum Monitoring Committee in Akwa Ibom State alleging that NSCDC officials were escorting a truck conveying illegally acquired product and Mr Ekpo 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 NSCDC exhibit yard.

When Mr. Ekpo arrived the location where the truck was intercepted, he ‘ordered’ NSCDC to release the truck to him as the chairman of PPMC. 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 arrest and exhibits impounded to the NSCDC for diligent investigation and prosecution.

In the end, both NSCDC and DSS conducted independent investigation and sent the samples of the product taken for forensic analysis at NNPC lab in Portharcourt. The report came out negative from the separate investigation done by the two agencies and the truck was jointly released to the owner in the spirit of synergy.

The claim that the officer is wanted by other security agencies is also false as he interfaces with every security agencies 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 does not only enjoy a cordial working relationship, but was given an award of gallantry by stakeholders in the petroleum industry in Akwa Ibom State for his efforts at combating illegal oil business in the state.

For the allegations that the officer uses a particular POS agent to collect ‘bribes’, he who alleges must prove. The officer in his defense has stated that he will respond to evidence and not wishful thinking.

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 Product that is a crime and NSCDC will not relent in its resolve to continue to fight illegal bunkering of Petroleum Product and other forms of illegalities in the sector.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps recognizes and appreciates the watchdog role the media plays as the fourth estate of the realm, but however calls for due diligence so as not to smear hard earned reputation which may attract litigation.