The State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Ebonyi State Command, Dr Elijah Etim Willie, has directed for the immediate suspension of seven division officers who failed to show up at the briefing he convened in relation to the envisage nationwide protest in the country.

Commandant Willie who breezed into the meeting straight from the national headquarters, where a similar briefing was issued by the commandant- general was vexed that some of the D-Os were not around when he made a roll call and directed the head of admin to issue the absentees query for insubordination and gross misconduct and outright suspension for those who failed to come at all.

He underscored the importance of the briefing arising from the riot act the CG read to them in Abuja to ensure adequate security in their domains while the protest lasts.

He asserted that national assettes and infrastructure protection was a core mandate of the corps which calls for proactive measures to guard them during the protests.

He vowed to hold any D-O whose domain records breach of public peace accountable and answerable to the national headquarters.

He charged the officers and men of the command to be professional in their conduct all through the protest period with a stern warning NEVER to expend any live ammunition on the protesters. He charged them to use blank bullets at extreme cases just to Ward off any hazard.

The Comandant reiterated the CG ‘s caution that peaceful assembly and/or protests are fundamental human rights of citizens that must be protected at all costs.

He however expressed reservation about the prospects of hoodlums taking advantage of the protest to wreck havock and directed a professional approach to arresting the situation. He cautioned his men not to attempt arresting anybody while in a crowd as it may elicited a mob counter action. He finally pray God to guard everyone to come out of the exercise unscratched.