PENGASSAN reiterates need for state police to check crude oil theft

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria on Friday reiterated the need for creation of state police to check crude oil theft in the Niger Delta.
Folorunsho Oginni, the Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of the PENGASSAN, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.
Oginni said that the creation of state police would assist the other security agencies to check the menace of crude oil theft.
He said: “State police will be familiar with their terrain and therefore be in a position to direct the other security agencies to the right places.
“State police can be of great help in the fight against the menace. There is no crime without people aiding them.
“Some people, somewhere, are giving the pirates a helping hand and it is my view if the state police is in place, it will curb the menace.”
Oginni urged the Federal Government to allow the establishment of state police to help in curbing oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
The association chairman said that the advantages of state police would be enormous.
“We should not only think that state government will hijack the state police, but there will be greater advantages if created,” he said.
He urged the Federal Government to always make funds available for the security agencies to ensure effective crime fighting in the society.
Oginni said that this would enable the security agents to secure the country’s oil facilities.