By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt – The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has set up a high-powered panel to investigate Tuesday’s fire that destroyed the corps’ exhibit yard at Iriebe in Rivers.
This is contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by the command’s Spokesman in the state, Olufemi Ayodele, and made available to newsmen on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exhibit yard was gutted by fire, leaving impounded trucks and trailers completely burnt.
Ayodele stated that the Commandant-General of the corps, Abubakar Audi, announced the setting up of the panel when he visited the scene of the fire.
Audi was quoted to have promised that the incident would not deter the corps from carrying out its mandate of protecting critical oil and gas pipelines.
“We will not be deterred by the attack rather it has renewed the vigour of Rivers command to doggedly phase out the activities of vandals in the state.
“The fire is a very unfortunate development that NSCDC is not happy about.
“Let me assure people of Iriebe Community that their safety is guaranteed because we will continue to protect them.
“The inferno has already been extinguished so there is no cause for alarm.
“The corps will not relent in arresting those sabotaging the nation’s resources by dealing in oil theft, vandalism, oil bunkering and other illicit dealings in petroleum products,” he further said.
Audi urged members of the public to provide the corps with credible information that would aid the arrest of vandals in the state.
He said that no fewer than 40 arrests were made recently in the state and that the suspects had been arraigned.
The commandant-general, who addressed the corps personnel at state command headquarters, urged them to remain dedicated and courageous in the discharge of their duty. (NAN)
