By Hindi Livinus
June 7, 2010 12:33AM

It was supposed to be a graduation parade, but the event ended in bizzare disappointment for senior officials of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps as some of the graduating cadet slumped during activities to commemorate their final recruitment into the service in Yola, Adamawa State.

The incidence, which occurred at the Federal Secretariat, Yola at the weekend caused a bit of stir when seven of the new recruits, out of a total of 207 cadet corps members mounting a graduation parade, suddenly slumped under the blazing sun after several hours of standing in drill position. The incidence drew the ire of the assistant commandant general in charge of the zone, Sebastein Ihebom, who allegedly issued a directive to the state commandant, Goodluck Asibi, to forward the names of the affected persons to the authorities; claiming that weak individuals will not be accommodated in the corps.

Subsequently, the seven cadet members involved in the episode have had their appointment as members of the corps revoked immediately. Not even the intervention of the representative of the state governor, and the plea from traditional rulers present at the event could help secure the needed reprieve for the cadet members.

Waiting on the leadership

Mr. Ihebom, who has allegedly been under intense pressure to rescind his directive of the discharge of the cadets, said the final decision on the matter would come from the national headquarters of the corps, and further explained that cadets who could not go on with the training, on health grounds, are withdrawn by the corps leadership based on strict operational guidelines.

“It is not my decision,” he said. “We have clear guidelines on such matter and there is nothing I can do. We have communicated the headquarters, and whatever is their decision, we will abide by it.”

The 200 successful cadets were charged to be above board and to be disciplined. They were also warned to desist from harassing or extorting members public with their uniform.

“Any erring personnel will not be shielded from facing the wrath of the law,” Mr Ihebom said. He also pointed out that the NSCDC has recorded significant results in the pursuit of water tight security in the nation. “It is worthy to note that our records speaks eloquently of our performance,” he said.

Pulquote: Any erring personnel will not be shielded from the law