By Bose Adelaja

TWO months after the anti-vandals squad of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, was attacked by some suspected pipeline vandals in Oke-Oko, a border town in Ikorodu, the Lagos State Command of the Corps has come out to say that the law enforcement agents were overwhelmed by the sophisticated weapons employed by the vandals, adding that three of its men were still missing.

The NSCDC State Commandant, Gabriel Abafi, also said that the vandals are being sponsored by some individuals, a situation which, he said, has enabled them procure better and more sophisticated weapons than the anti-vandals squad. He thereby called on both the Federal and state governments to declare the affected area a danger zone, saying only the combined team of the military and other security agencies can put an end to the illicit business.

Lamenting that the vandals have been having a field day since the incident occurred, the commandant said he has intensified the search for the missing men through other relevant security outfits in the state. ‘’We are still searching for three of our men. In the event, we have contacted all the intelligence organisations to help us in the search. Unfortunately the vandals are having a field day in the community and this is so painful because what belongs to the entire nation is being cornered by some individuals who have sponsors and buyers,’’ he lamented.

Abafi also said the affected families have been contacted to join the state chapter in prayers for the missing officials as there was no clue to their whereabouts.’’We want to keep the names secret so that emotions will not be raised by individual families who have been coming to our office. Also, we have been pleading with them to join us in prayers,’’ he said.

The NSCDC official called on buyers of vandalised products to desist from the act, saying: ‘’If there are no buyers, these people will stop operation.” We hereby urge both the state and Federal governments to declare the place a no-go-area to the vandals, even if it means taking possession of the area,’’ he said. Meanwhile, the residents have urged government to provide adequate security in the community as the vandals have re-grouped, even threatening the community in defiance of law enforcement agents.