The Abia command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it will not relent to discharge the corps’ mandate, especially in protecting the critical national assets and infrastructure.

NSCDC commandant Ayinla Olowo said this while addressing the corps operatives attached to the Anti-Vandalism Team at the command’s headquarters in Umuahia.

Mr Olowo was quoted in a statement on Sunday by the NSCDC that “every nation’s economy sits on her critical national assets and infrastructure of government at all levels; hence any attack on them is a direct attack on the economy, which we must vehemently resist.”

He added, “The protection of petroleum pipelines, telecommunications infrastructure, power installations and others remains our core mandate that must be vigorously carried out.”

The commandant charged the team to remain focused and committed to the mandate, in addition to the protection of lives and property.

He reaffirmed the zero-tolerance stance of the corps commandant-general Ahmed Audi against all forms of vandalism, oil bunkering and illegal dealings in petroleum products.

“While the corps has redoubled its efforts towards arresting and prosecuting vandals, we will equally not spare any personnel, whose activities are reasonably suspected to be inimical to realising our mandate,” explained Mr Olowo. “I charge you once again not only to remain focused but be ruthless to all enemies of our nation’s economy.

The NSCDC chief urged Nigerians to remain reliable partners of the corps in providing adequate security for lives and property in the state.

(NAN)