……….NSCDC disbands anti vandal team, suspends team leader
By Chibisi Ohakah, Abuja
Barely 24 hours after the outburst of the Governor of River state, Nyesom Wike, over links between illegal refineries in the region and Nigeria’s security operatives in the state, the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi, has ordered the suspension of the head of the anti-vandal team and the disbandment of the unit.
Wike had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the 23 local government chairmen in the state to provide a comprehensive list of illegal refineries and their operators within their jurisdiction.
Speaking during a meeting with the local council chairmen and heads of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air force, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Police, the Directorate of State Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps at Government House in Port Harcourt last weekend, the governor challenged the council chairmen to prove they were not complicit in illegal refinery business.
In a press release issued in Port Harcourt by the Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kevin Ebri, the governor challenged the council chairman comb the state and fish out illegal refineries and their owners.
“So, go and identify as many as you can. I will pay N2million for each one. And I am going to fight against this. Our people are dying and we owe our people the responsibility to protect them, to save them from death they never caused.
“So, you must, and you’re given 48 hours to go and identify all illegal refineries sites, and those who are in charge of them,” Wike was quoted.
He said that any governor who is afraid to confront the criminals should be ready to resign from his job. The governor frowned on security agencies for the role some of their personnel had played in aiding and providing cover for the operators of the illegal refineries in the state.
The Rivers state governor urged the state Police Commissioner, Eboka Friday, to redeploy out of the state a particular DPO in Emohua local government area who he accused of operating an illegal refinery.
“It’s unfortunate for this country how security people will be involved in illegal bunkering. I can’t believe it. Mr. CP (Commissioner of Police), I thank you for transferring the DPO in Rumuji, who owns a refinery. But the man must leave here, not transferred. He must leave this state.
“I can’t be governor here and security man owns an illegal refinery. No, it is not possible…the man has to go. Take him to wherever they allow bunkering,” Wike stated.
Meanwhile, while suspending the head of the NSCDC anti-vandal team, and the disbandment of the unit, the Commandant of the Corps, Ahmed Audi, expressed shock and dismay over the allegations leveled against the anti-vandal unit of Rivers State Command of the Corps by the Governor Nyesom Wike.
Responding to the governor’s allegations the NSCDC’s director of public relations, Olusola Odumosu, said the Command is 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 leveled against the unit by the governor,” he said in a statement.
He further directed the Acting DCG in charge of investigation and intelligence to summon all the personnel involved to the national headquarters, Abuja for further interrogation.
He assured the governor of getting to the root of the matter without delay, and promised more synergy with the state government towards discharging more effective service.
“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,” he said, adding that the Corps will investigate those fingered in the allegations and deal decisively with them if found guilty.
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