Barr Nwannukwu Nnamdi Cyprian is the ninth substantive Commandant Abia state Command of Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). In this interview with SAM OBINNA IBE, he reassures of a crime-free yuletide in Abia and speaks on the command’s efforts at curbing the farmers, herders’ clashes in the state.
What is the level of your command’s combat readiness as we approach new year celebrations?
It is part of our mandate to protect lives and properties of Nigerians and equally maintain peace and order in the system with particular reference to Abia where I am serving as the commandant. From our operational order, we have made adequate deployment of our men with the charge to provide a secured environment for hitch-free yuletide celebrations.
I have also handed a matching order to my men to increase patrols in the three (3) senatorial zones of Abia state; to double their surveillance activities in and around the marked black spots, event centres and other key places such as worship centres, markets, which are usually prone to attacks.
The tactical teams, counter terrorism units and the command’s rapid response teams have been fully mobilised and put on a yellow alert to spare nobody or group of persons, no matter how highly placed whose activities are considered inimical to the peace of the state or may cause any form of terror. Again, this must be done in line with the extant rules, full paramilitary professionalism and rules of engagement, especially, in dealing with civil populace while remaining firm and fair in carrying out their assigned duties.
About one year ago as the helmsman, can you speak on your scorecard?
Well, I don’t think is wise for me to appraise or assess myself but the Latin/Legal Maxim of “Reps Ipsar Loquito” meaning that “the fact speaks for itself” shall suffice in this matter.
Our giant strides against cases of pipeline vandalism, bunkering activities, baby factories etc. within this one year under my watch, is a pointer to how far or how well we have fared. Within this one year also, our intelligence gathering has been at its best and has helped to crack some high profile cases which for a long time had been a nightmare to residents of the state.
We have also done well in human resources development as we have collaborated with Nigerian Army to train over 200 of our personnel in the basic small arms and light weapons handling.
On infrastructural development, I want to sincerely appreciate Commandant General Abdullahi Gana Mohamadu for his relentless support which has enabled us complete some “necessary take-off structures” at the Command’s permanent office and have since relocated thereby ending the years of operating from a rented apartment with its attendant personnel discomfort, low morale, armoury safety issues and unnecessary harassment from the property owner.
Farmers/herders clash is one of the major challenges affecting most states in the country, how has your command been able to tackle this?
As a well-trained officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a legal background, I know that proper, adequate and timely utilization of intelligence guarantees victories without firing a shot. It is on the strength of the above observation that I have taken time out to visit the state leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, the leadership of Umuchieze Cattle Market in Umunneochi LGA and the Farmers Association in Abia, the result of which has been a drastic reduction in farmers/herders clashes in the state. I have established a forum called NSCDC Herders/Farmers Forum and we have been through this forum mediating, reconciling and sustaining the peace process between them.
Also, the Command Peace and Conflict Resolution Unit has been up and doing in the application of “Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism”. In fact, the Command has done quite well in this area.
What are the major challenges your command is facing in Abia state?
As a Command, we are faced with myriad of challenges but worthy of mention here are, inadequate operational vehicles, modern security gadgets/equipment and other supports the government may deem necessary.
What is your message to Abians as the they celebrate Christmas and new year?
Security agencies are not spirits. They work with timely and adequate information, hence, we plead with residents of the state to divulge useful security information to our officers in all the formations to enable them arrest situations before they pose as threat to the state. However, with the level of deployment we have made, the return of the personnel of the corps to the Command after a successful completion of a Counter-Terrorism course organised by the National Headquarters of the Corps in conjunction with the British High Commission in Abuja and the repositioning of the Command Tactical Teams, Rapid Response Teams and the Crisis Management Department (disaster), we are trusting God that it will be hitch-free celebration for the residents of the state.
