Imo Invasion: NSCDC CG seeks peace, warns personnel against reprisal

The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has reacted to the invasion of the Corps’ Imo State Command by some heavily armed personnel of a sister security agency, calling for caution against any planned reprisal.

Suing for peace, Audi directed his officers in Imo State Command to remain calm and not take laws into their own hands, stating that, “security is a collective responsibility and every agency of government empowered by law to protect lives and property of Nigerians must work together and see themselves as partners in progress, adding that “two wrongs cannot make a right and there are more progressive channels to resolve issues amicably without necessarily resorting to violent attacks on each other’s personnel or facilities”.

According to NSCDC boss, as quoted in a press release issued by Corps’ Director of Public Relations Officer,  DCC Olusola Odumosu, “the invasion of its Command headquarters in Imo State was avoidable and unnecessary in the face of synergy and collaboration that is needed to combat the various security challenges in the country and urged all NSCDC personnel to maintain a high level of civility and decorum by avoiding any form of confrontation with other security and law enforcement personnel while going about their lawful duties”.

Audi, while addressing his personnel on the matter, maintained that the Corps was committed to peaceful coexistence among security agencies and remained undaunted despite all that transpired.

He said, “Our mandate of securing lives and protecting critical national assets and Infrastructure is very sacrosanct in ridding the nation of criminal elements and economic saboteurs, therefore, I urge you to remain focused, resolute and continue to maintain a harmonious relationship with your professional colleagues on the field at all time, even in the face of harassment and intimidation”.

Audi further noted that, as the lead agency in safeguarding all critical national assets and Infrastructure, he directed all officers and men of the Corps to carry out the Presidential order of clamping down on economic saboteurs, petroleum pipeline vandals and illegal bunkerers across the nation, reiterating the need to abide by the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Code of Ethics of the NSCDC.

“We are committed to synergy and collaboration with other agencies despite what has happened, I, therefore, urge all my officers to remain calm and avoid any form of reprisal attack by allowing the leadership of both agencies to resolve the matter amicably.

“We are also seeking the support of members of the public in the fight against insecurity affecting our dear nation through timely release of intelligence information that could lead to arrest of all criminal elements disturbing the peace of the country,” he said.