By Dorcas Samson Achi
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Imo State Commandant, Matthew Sunday Ovye has successfully completed two years of quality service delivery in Imo with notable achievements.
The Academia who joined the force as a volunteer has distinguished himself with integrity, quality service delivery, visible professionalism, and staunch dedication to duty, which has seen him excelling beyond bounds.
The Nassarawa State Born graduate of Geology and Mining, started off as a classroom teacher, taught in the secondary school, worked with the Teachers Service Commission before joining the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) as a volunteer, from where he rose to Assistant Superintendent of Corps 2 and progressed to become the Commandant and was posted to Imo State. Undoubtedly, Imolites have so far enjoyed his stewardship and unparalleled service to humanity.
Commandant Ovye was posted in Imo State on the 4th of July 2022, when Imo was the hotbed of criminality, social vices, insecurity and activities of unknown gunmen. His arrival and assumption of duty were greeted with sundry security cases ranging from vandalism, oil bunkering activities and destruction of electrical equipments and pipelines by criminals, with large concentration on the oil producing area of the state. These evils were perpetuated on a daily basis by saboteurs of government without them entertaining any iota of fear of being arrested, captured or being punished according to law.
Being a committed and proactive security expert who understands the hazards and menace of oil theft and its destructions to the economy of the state, Ovye declared instant war against oil bunkering and vandalism by immediately ensuring his security torch reached everywhere and within four days in Imo, arrested seven truck loads of bunkered products and made the culprits to face the law.
He quickly constituted a fresh anti-vandal team which he mandated to work in all the LGAs of the state in collaboration with other security agencies to ensure eradication of social vices. Even though it is almost impossible to eradicate crime but NSCDC under the able leadership of Ovye has drastically reduced crime in the state. Imo is no longer bedeviled by thuggery, banditry, killings, maimings, violence and all forms of criminality as it were. It is now very difficult to see trucks carrying bunkered products in the state because the Corps' eagle eyes are everywhere, to ensure sanity and peace in the state.
The arrests and prosecutions of vandals in Imo in several courts of competent jurisdiction within the country, are testaments to Ovye's unwavering courage and daring capacity to fight criminality. Records have shown that there are over 30 cases of bunkering activities and other social vices running in the courts at different levels of completion.
Ovye's concerns and vast knowledge of the consequences of artisanal oil refining which ranges from environmental degradation, loss of lives/resources, health challenges, effect on the national economy, loss of livelihoods and food security, keeps propelling him to champion and intensify education on health related impacts of oil spillage, illegal oil refining and explosion, using every means at his disposal.
The Commandant has proved himself as a dedicated and professional security officer who does not trivialize his duties. At the Corps, he has provided transparent, accountable and responsible leadership undergirded by discipline, civility and respect for human dignity. Under his leadership, we have seen great reduction in oil theft, human casualties and social vices.
His absolute dedication to Save the School Innovative Program for the protection of vulnerable schools across the state ably pioneered by the NSCDC Commandant General, Dr. Armed Abubukar Audi, mni, OFR, deserves unceasing accolades. Imo State is among the states in the nation that are reaping the enormous harvests of the positive impacts of Save the School Initiative by NSCDC.
Ovye has utilized this project to build a strong relationship between the Corps and the students/youths where the latter is sensitized, enlightened and informed on the dangers of involvement in crime, violence, social vices, insecurity, crime, drug use, kidnapping for ransom, recruitment into and membership of dangerous criminal gangs etc, and subsequently, engaged to become responsible members of the society.
His synergy with parents and teachers in handling delinquencies in students and pupils is producing effective results, as the Corps have employed necessary disciplinary, counseling and therapeutic measures to effect positive changes in the children.
He has prioritized Save the School Initiative, and remained committed to his "catch them young" mantra, with the hope of achieving a safe and sustainable society for all, both now and in the future.
Together with the specialized Save School Team he set up, which collaborates with NSCDC's Female Strike Force and the Rapid Response Squad, moving round schools; they have been able to accelerate progress and meet up with the agenda of the Corps.
Ovye ensures that the team tours every school in the 27 LGAs of the state, in its advocacy and crusade against indiscipline, misconducts and malfeasance in pupils and students.
His profound efforts have made Save the School Initiative continue to yield enormous results, which is evident in the arrest and dispossession of the weapons and charms of many students who pervert and distort the harmony, tranquility and conducive learning culture in our academic environments. These students when arrested are brought to the Command, their parents invited, and healthy interactions ensues, after which they are handed over to the chaplain and counselors of NSCDC, who are professionally trained and well equipped to unravel truths from them, then counsel and pray for them and also follow them up in a bid to helping them abstain from their wrongdoings and turn a new leaf.
The results of Save the School Initiative may not be so paramount now but in future we all shall reap the good fruits of the efforts of NSCDC. The Corps' success in positively capturing the minds of these children in primary and secondary schools, will immensely benefit generations to come. Youths' restiveness and exuberance will be checked, while their energy, creativity and sagacity shall be channelled into useful engagements.
Matthew Sunday Ovye is a very disciplined, calm and simple officer, who is totally unaffected by the encomiums he receives from people who appreciate his remarkable efforts in combating crime in Imo, instead gives great kudos to the governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma for his immense support and provisions to security agencies in the state and for making work easy for them. According to him, the governor prioritizes the security of lives and properties of Imolites against all odds and can adopt any means within his capacity to ensure that Imolites are save and secured to carry out their legitimate duties.
Ovye's administration has proven that the Corps is committed to their constitutional mandate of protecting our communities against crime and insecurity, as they toil day and night to contribute their best towards maintaining absolute order, security, peace, prosperity and development in Imo State.
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