The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Rivers State Command has clarified its role in the recently concluded local government elections in the state.
During a media briefing in Port Harcourt, NSCDC Rivers State Command spokesman Olufemi Ayodele explained that, contrary to reports suggesting the agency intervened after a court ruling prevented the police from participating in the election, the corps’ involvement was limited to routine patrols and safeguarding critical national assets and infrastructure from vandalism.
Ayodele also addressed concerns about the operational vehicles donated by the Rivers State Government prior to the election, emphasizing that the vehicles were meant to enhance the Command’s operational efficiency.
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He further noted that no NSCDC personnel were stationed at polling centers across the state during the election.
The spokesman added that State Commandant Joachim Okafor, after assuming duties, paid a courtesy visit to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who provided the vehicles after being briefed on the Commandant’s achievements.
“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 addressed the viral video showing corps personnel jubilating, explaining that the celebration was in response to the donation of operational vehicles. He clarified that the excitement seen in the video stemmed from the increased capacity the vehicles would provide, boosting the Command’s operational efficiency.
“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.”
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