P/HARCOURT (Sundiata Post) – The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Rivers State Command has clarified its involvement in the just concluded local government elections in the state.
The Rivers State Command spokesman of the NSCDC Olufemi Ayodele at a media briefing in Port Harcourt explained that contrary to reports that the agency stepped in following a court judgement barring the police from participating in the election, the role of the corps during the election centered on routine patrol and the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure against vandalism by hoodlums.
The NSCDC spokesman equally clarified that the operational vehicles donated by the Rivers State Government before the polls were to enhance the operational efficiency of the Command, saying none of its personnel was seen at polling centres across the State.
SC Ayodele says the State Commandant Joachim Okafor had after assumption of duties paid a courtesy visit to Governor Siminalayi Fubara who provided the vehicles after being briefed on the achievements of the new state commandant.
“The Rivers State Command is hereby stating unequivocally that the vehicles were not donated for elections neither were they compensations for participating in the Local Government Elections but to enhance the command’s land operational patrol like every other security agencies,” he said.
“Our role in the last local government election centered on routine patrol and the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure across the state based on the intelligence report at our disposal even before the election was conducted; these infrastructures and amenities were provided as succour to the good people of Rivers State and should not be vandalized by hoodlums because of its negative effects on the economy of the nation and the state as well”.
The NSCDC Public Relations Officer also spoke on the viral video showing personnel of the corps jubilating, saying the excitement was a fallout of the donation of the operational vehicles.
“To set the record straight; Commandant Joachin Okafor was recently deployed as the 15th substantive Rivers State Commandant by the NSCDC Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi mni, OFR based on his pedigree of diligent service and track record of numerous excellent achievements as Head of Antivandal Squad in Kano State, Rivers State and Commandant of Niger State where the command under his watch got the donations of 20 operational vehicles from the Niger State Governor,” the statement added.
“As seen in the video circulating on the internet the operatives of the Rivers State Command were overwhelmed with great excitement and jubilation as the command is of course fortunate to have a Commandant whose assumption of office brought a long-awaited transformation, progress, and remarkable achievements within a period less than one month.”
