Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has ordered the suspension of the head of anti-vandal team at its Rivers State Command and the disbandment of the unit, over alleged complicity in oil theft.
This as Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike had accused the head of the anti-vandal unit of NSCDC in the state of aiding and abetting vandals and illegal bunkering to carry out their nefarious activities in the state, thereby contributing to soot pollution.
Governor Wike had also accused a certain Divisional Police Officer in Emohua LGA of the State of owning an illegal oil refining site and demanded for immediate redeployment of the accused.
In a swift reaction, the NSCDC boss has expressed shock and disappointment over the allegations levelled by the governor on its officer, assuring of investigation on the accused officer.
Audi said the extant rules and regulations guiding the Corps operations and the general ethics of the service requires total discipline, integrity, incorruptibility, transparency and accountability on the part of every Corps personnel, hence, the reason for the immediate action.
Director of Public Relations, NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu, said the Commandant General has directed the Acting DCG in charge of investigation and intelligence to summon all the personnel involved to the Corps Headquarters, for further investigation to determine the level of involvement and or culpability with a view to dispensing justice appropriately.
Audi in the statement decried the allegations as not being in tandem with his vision for the Corps, stressing that he will not condone any criminal act or act of compromise by any personnel.
He emphasized that a thorough investigation would be conducted to ascertain the veracity of the allegation and roles played by the individuals involved and whoever is found guilty would face necessary disciplinary actions and punishment.
The NSCDC boss assured the Governor of Rivers state of getting to the root of the matter without delay, promising more synergy with the state government towards discharging more effective service delivery to the good people of Rivers state.
“My administration has come with a renewed vigour to reposition the service in line with global best practices and will not condone any act of sabotage by any personnel no matter how highly or lowly placed.
“The swift action taken by me is to close any identified gaps in our operations and service to the nation, I will not tolerate any act of indiscipline, compromise or sabotage under any guise; our founding fathers have worked so hard to earn good name for the service as a noble organization and I will not allow a few bad eggs to spoil our name, image, our credibility and integrity. We will investigate those fingered in the allegations and deal decisively with them if found guilty to serve as a deterrent to others” the Commandant was quoted.
Audi emphasized that as the lead agency in the protection of critical national asset and infrastructure, the Corps management would beam more searchlight into that area by reorganizing and reconstituting the anti-vandal unit with a view to making it more responsive, transparent and accountable to Nigerians.
“Our moral principles are not negotiable; we are going to rejig the unit and fish out those spoiling the name of the Corps, my fight against vandals, illegal oil bunkering and those stealing our collective wealth and sabotaging our economy is unflinching and we will redouble our efforts to whittle down this act of sabotage and bring to justice anyone not in tune with our vision and mission for the service.”
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