NSCDC arrest 10 suspected vandals in Imo
By Ifeanyi Nwanguma
The commandant Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC, Imo State Command, Raji Ibrahim Adedoyin has said that the command has so far arrested 10 suspected hoodlums involved in vandalizing government owned water board cables in the state
Raji revealed this when paid host to members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, Imo State Council at the command headquarters, Owerri
He regretted that the hoodlums invaded the premises of water board and vandalized all the cables and took away the generator, stressing that the officers of the command would no longer tolerate criminal activities in the state
He congratulated the chairman of NUJ, Imo State Council, Chief Chris Akaraoney and other executive members for their emergence in their election
He regretted that as journalists whose role in the country cannot be overemphasized yet they are exposed to danger in the course of carrying out their constitutional assignment
Describing journalists as the image maker of the society, he pledged to offer support to the union whenever called upon as long as he remains in the state
He said that NSCDC by act the established it are always there for defenceless Nigerians while assuring strong and committed synergy between the command and the union in the protection of lives and properties of Imo citizens
He said that apart from arresting vandals also has both disaster and crisis management department that is saddled with the responsibility of knowing what happens with a view to reporting to the appropriate authority for immediate action to avoid any disaster
While appreciating the presence of the NUJ executive members also informed them that barely 11 months he was posted to Imo State command, a lot of changes has taken place
Earlier in his speech, the chairman of NUJ, Imo State Council, Chief Chris Akaraonye congratulated the commandant for his posting to Imo State while advocating for the strengthening of the long existing relationship between the two organization
He advised the commandant to always put the leadership of the council on notice for effective coverage of their activities devoid of negativism while appealing to him to be mindful of the activities of those who parade themselves as journalists in the state
He blamed the course of the negative reporting in the media to activities of quarks who operates without course to belonging to NUJ in the state
The council chairman said that NUJ as a body would always be there for the command whenever the need arises, adding that the two bodies are working for the good of the state.