The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has renewed the call for effective security surveillance in Ebonyi to curb the activities of criminals in every part of the state.
Mr Francis Nnadi, the Corps’ state Commandant made the call on Wednesday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, Mrs Antonia Uche-Anya at the state Police Command Headquarters, Abakaliki.
He said that the security operatives in the two agencies must upscale in intelligence gathering and operational efficiency to tackle crime and criminal activities in the state.
He added that security agencies must prioritise security and think out of the box to secure the state and its people especially as the Yuletide season approaches.
The Civil Defence boss said that the two sister agencies play complementary roles in maintaining peace and order in the society and explained that they were in the state to complement each other in providing needed security.
“We have come to complement each other and lend a helping hand towards ensuring ethical practices by officers and men of both formations.
“Whenever you find my men doing the wrong thing, please call me. I will do the same to you if I find a defaulting police officers,” Nnadi said.
The Commandant expressed gratitude to the Police boss for the existing peace and cordial relationships among men and officers of both agencies saying that he was not in the command to solicit for synergy.
“I’m not in the command to solicit for synergy, there is already cordial relationship in existence for long, I’d rather appeal that attention should be channeled towards curbing inter agency rivalry among the ranks and file,” he added.
He also pledged to uphold the solidarity of NSCDC with the police particularly in the area of intelligence-based information sharing.
Responding, CP Uche-Anya thanked the Civil Defence Commandant for the visit, noting that they were all children of the same father on a single mission of making Ebonyi safer and more secured for all.
She stressed that the Inspector-General of Police has been emphasising the need for fraternal synergy among security agencies.
Uche-Anya suggested a joint sporting activities among security personnel to further cement their mutual cooperation adding that rivalry ought not to be noticed amongst them.
The CP assured the new commandant that her office would offer any level of assistance he needed to succeed in his task in the state.
“We must see ourselves and our respective formations as people who are saddled with the responsibility to secure the state and her people.
“We must collaborate and eschew all forms of rivalry to enable us succeed in the assigned task,” Uche-Anya said.
Our cirrespondent recalls that the NSCDC boss had earlier in the week also paid a similar visit to the Cantonment Commander of Nkwagu Military Cantonment, Lt Col AA Bako where they explored areas of cooperation and collaboration.
The commandant had during the occasion requested for the support of the army towards arms bearing and other refresher training activities to sharpen the skills of NSCDC personnel.
The cantonment commander extended a hand of fellowship to the NSCDC commandant in the area of joint sporting activities.
Paulinus Ogbonna, Abakaliki