With a view to continue to fulfill its constitutional mandate, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ebonyi State Command, has requested the intervention of governments, philanthropists and cooperative bodies in the areas of provision of some operational equipment.
The state commandant, Elijah Etim Willie, made the call at the command’s headquarters in Abakaliki during an interview with The Point on the activities of the command between the first and second quarters of 2024.
Reeling out the achievements of the agency, Willie identified some areas of challenges where stakeholders needed to assist the command.
He mentioned insufficient operational vehicles, diesel, Information Communication Technology gadgets as some of the challenges facing the command in the line of fulfilling its core mandates in the state.
“Some of the challenges we are facing in Ebonyi command is lack of operational vehicles and diesel for quick response/surveillance, ICT gadgets for digital security among others,” he disclosed.
Notwithstanding the challenges, the commandant noted that NSCDC under his watch has recorded several achievements in the period under review.
He said the command recorded 40 cases of vandalism of public facilities in Ebonyi State between January and June this year.
Out of the 40 cases, he said the command was able to secure the conviction of two persons while others are still pending in various courts of competent jurisdictions.
“In collaboration with other sister agencies, we midwifed the Onicha Senatorial election, carried out a series of training for personnel to guarantee efficiency in service delivery. We have been able to protect all the critical national assets in the state. We are very much proactive in this area as well as protection of lives and property.
“Between the first and second quarters of 2024, we have recorded 40 cases of vandalism, secured two convictions in court. Some matters are still under investigations while others are still pending before courts of competent jurisdictions in the state,” he explained.
The Commandant lamented the negative impact of vandalism on the populace and enjoined youths to shun all forms of crimes especially vandalism and make good use of their youthful time.
“I advise youths to look for legal means of income. If I lived the way some of them live, I wouldn’t be here (as NSCDC Commandant) and you (The Point correspondent) wouldn’t have been here today too. It is all about developing the right mentality,” Willie stated.
