The commandant general of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr Ahmed Audi has ordered the suspension of the head, anti-vandal team and the disbandment of the unit in Rivers State after the governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, accused the security outfit and the police of conniving with vandals to carry out illegal refining of crude oil.
Recall that Wike had at a meeting with the local council chairmen and heads of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force, Directorate of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Port Harcourt last Friday condemned the conduct of a particular DPO in Emohua local government area of the state and the NCSDC anti-vandal head in the state for aiding and abetting illegal oil refining.
“Transfer the man and tell him to leave. He is a complete saboteur. I mean, how can security men be the one involved in this. What kind of country are we?”
In a statement by spokesman for the corps, Mr. Olusola Odumosu entitled ‘NSCDC boss disbands the anti-vandal unit of Rivers State Command’ Audi said the corps would look into the allegation and would not tolerate any act of indiscipline, compromise or sabotage under any guise.
“Worried by this disappointing development, the CG has ordered the suspension of the head of the anti-vandal team and the disbandment of the unit with immediate effect, pending the outcome of an independent inquiry set up to look into the weighty allegations levelled against the unit by the governor,” said Odumosu.
Audi directed the investigation and intelligence unit of the security outfit to summon all the personnel involved to the national headquarters, Abuja for further investigation to determine the level of involvement and/or culpability with a view to dispensing justice appropriately.
He decried the allegations as not being in tandem with his vision for the corps, stressing that he won’t condone any criminal act or act of compromise by any personnel.
He assured the governor of getting to the root of the matter without delay and also promised more synergy with the state government towards discharging more effective service delivery to the people of Rivers State.
“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 a good name for the service as a noble organisation 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.
“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 bunkers 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,” he added.