HOODLUMS CART AWAY WITH PROPERTIES OF FLOOD VICTIM

 

By Dr. Helen Chimezie

Following the rise in water levels in some Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Rivers State, and the consequent submerging of buildings and whole communities; hoodlums have capitalized on the opportunity to cart away the properties of helpless victims of the disaster.

This was revealed by the Commander General of OSPAC Nigeria, Comrade Kingsley Ogwumike Nonye, while inspecting some areas affected by the flood in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA (ONELGA) of Rivers state. He noted that there was an urgent need to mount rescue missions as, some persons were still trapped in buildings overtaken by the floods, especially the aged and children, who could not escape in time as the water level rose swiftly in some communities.

He disclosed that most OSPAC operatives have resorted to using canoes, to patrol the affected communities to ward off thieves and also to rescue victims of the flood.

Speaking further he noted, “I know that just two days ago, there was a press briefing here in the office, where my secretary, the RP, chief of staff, and PRO addressed the media, and we made it clear that OSPAC will operate within its jurisdiction and mandate. I don’t know what people in other areas are passing through as we are yet to receive reports, but here in ONELGA, our field intelligence has shown that people are suffering. They have lost a lot of properties and farm produce. Reliance on paddle canoes to reach affected places is not helping us at all, in terms of response time and ability to cover a wider area; so criminals and hoodlums have used the opportunity to commit havoc. People cannot be displaced from their properties suddenly, and by the time you come back, your valuables have been looted. It is traumatic.

“We are not spirits like I said and people have come to rely so much on OSPAC, but we are human beings and not spirits. For instance, we cannot be in Oblsi, and be expected to appear in Obohia in a jiffy, with just one operational vehicle. Over 90 percent of all our vehicles are grounded and are in the mechanic workshops, with no way to fix them.

“However, we are coping and managing in the meantime. Our operatives are using canoes to patrol the flood affected areas and also to carry out emergency rescues as well as catching criminals, whom we hand over to the appropriate authorities.  Like the media engagement we had last week, we asked the state government, the local governments, and the oil multinationals to assist OSPAC with speed boats, for fast response to emergency situations, like some persons, especially the elderly and children who were trapped behind by the floods. With such facilities, we assure that OSPAC is capable, willing, and ready to move fast to such areas, execute the rescue no matter how interior they are, and evacuate the victims to safety”.

Commander Ogwumike Nonye, used the opportunity to thank the ONELGA council chairman for his immense support for OSPAC. He said, “We hold our amiable chairman in high esteem. Before OSPAC came on board, the council chairman today, was a victim of the bandits that overran the Local Government Area, and it is in our record that the council chairman today, after OSPAC was set up, was among the first persons that supported OSPAC financially. So he is equally OSPAC as the rest of us are.

You will understand that it’s only the council that is paying OSPAC. He cannot do more than what his office can accommodate, but we also encourage him to do more. There are other ways through which he can reach out to other agencies and parastatals of government and well-meaning people in ONELGA to support the council in tackling insecurity and see that the welfare of OSPAC operatives are put into consideration, for the effective delivery of services.

So we are just praying, because we know he knows the problem of OSPAC that God should give him the enablement and the wisdom and good people that will guide him on who and who to reach, offices to reach, to support the little that is coming from the council, so that OSPAC can operate maximally. We have to increase our personnel. A lot of people want to join OSAPAC today. We need every support we can get. They say peace is priceless. There is no amount of money, sacrifice, or service you can give towards achieving peace that is too much. We know that he already knows what to do, we pray that he should have everything it takes, to do what needs to be done, to improve what the council so far has been giving to us”.