Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Audi, has ordered the immediate removal of Rivers State Commandant, Michael Ogar, over a recent faceoff with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

The faceoff which allegedly led to barricading of the road leading to the NSCDC state command head office in Port Harcourt by members of NUPENG, on Wednesday, has elicited a strong response from the NSCDC headquarters in Abuja.

The CG who also set up a committee to investigate the role played by the state Commandant and members of the command Anti-vandal team in the crisis, also directed Ogar to hand over the affairs of the Command to his Deputy, pending the deployment of a substantive State Commandant.

A communique signed by the national Public Relations Officer of the agency, Olusola Odumosu, indicates that the removal of Ogar serves as a deterrent to officers on all acts of indiscipline.

According to the statement, Audi pointed out that humility and integrity in service delivery is the watchword of the Corps, as such, any breach of trust or suspected compromise by any personnel will not be treated with kids gloves.

“I have constituted a high-powered committee to carry out a full-scale investigation into the incident in Port Harcourt.

“Nigerians are fully aware that we are the lead agency in the protection of critical government assets and infrastructure.

“Therefore, under my watch, no act of indiscipline, compromise or sabotage would be condoned from anyone within and outside the Corps.

“I have given the committee a marching order to ascertain the role played by either of the parties and anyone found guilty would be severely dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the law,” he said.

Recall that the CG recently summoned Niger Delta State Commandants to Abuja charging them with the need to rejig their anti-vandal units in line with Mr President’s order to stop oil theft and other criminal activities within the sector.

Expressing confidence in the ability of the committee to carry out an unbiased investigation, Audi appealed to members of the public and all interested stakeholders to await the outcome of the investigation and proposed recommendations.

The CG assured that NSCDC will continue to sanitise the oil sector by waging war against oil thieves and illegal oil bunkers sabotaging the nation’s economy and urged all critical stakeholders to continue supporting the Corps in its renewed fight against oil theft by giving credible information that may lead to the arrest of all nefarious individuals involved in sharp practices within the oil industry.