The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Civil Defence

  • Civil Defence trains private guards in Bayelsa

    Civil Defence trains private guards in Bayelsa

    Association of Private Guard Companies (APGC) in Bayelsa State is deep-neck in a profitable romance with the state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The relationship has yielded its first fruit – the training and passing out of 102 private guards.

    The guards from different private guard companies were trained to confront different security challenges in their various duty posts.

    Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, said the security challenges facing the country should not be tackled alone by the  conventional security outfits.

    “These challenges cannot be tackled unilaterally by any security agency. It requires a synergy between different stakeholders and individuals. The importance of private guard companies cannot be ruled out”, he said.

    Agu who was represented at the event by his Second in Command, Deputy Commandant, Miebi Godwin, observed that the lager percentage of the trained personnel would be deployed in sensitive areas.

    The Deputy Commandant in charge of PVC, Mr. Ufondu Hyascient, said the private guards were sent to the corps for training by more than 27 companies. He reiterated that the training had prepared the beneficiaries to face the challenges facing the state and the nation.

    Chairman, APGC, Col. D.T. Brown (retd.) said it was the first time he would experience the passing out parade of guards trained by NSCDC. He said judging from their march pass, the guards had done very well.

    He heaped praises on the commandant and persons working with him. Describing Agu as a smart and intelligent man, he said the corps had developed beyond people’s expectation under his supervision.

    The owner of Pehek Security Services Ltd, Mr. Gesiye Ekade, was excited at the training. He said the training would help the company serve its clients better.

  • Coroner summons Civil Defence officials over woman’s death

    The District Coroner in Yaba, Lagos, Mrs A. Ipaye-Nwachukwu has summoned two senior officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to explain the circumstances surrounding the death of a trader, Mrs Angelina Dansu.

    The summons is in line with Section 32 (1) of the Coroners’ System Law of Lagos State, 2007.

    The coroner warned that should NSCDC fail to attend or produce the officers or any documents which would assist her in delivering a verdict, they would be liable to sanctions.

    Those summonsed are NSCDC Commandant, Zone A, Lagos Island, Mr Donatus Ikemefuna and Mr Lugard Osaro Osemwegie, also of Zone A.

    They are expected to give evidence as well as produce the officer who allegedly shot Mrs Dansu on May 7.

    “In addition, you are to produce document(s) and/or investigation report(s) conducted by your office in respect of the death of the deceased,” the District Coroner ordered.

    The inquest was initiated by a human rights group, the Access to Justice (AJ), on behalf of the Dansu family. It wrote the District Coroner on June 17, requesting an investigation.

    According to AJ, the late Mrs Dansu was allegedly shot and killed by an NSCDC official attached to Zone A, Lagos Command at Saponkoji Village, an island in Apapa Local Government Area.

    The group said eye witnesses claimed the officials stormed the deceased’s shop and attempted to cart away her goods (kerosene). They were said to have beaten up the woman for daring to resist them.

    She was reportedly molested and her clothes torn. As she struggled to escape, one of the NSCDC men allegedly shot at her. She died on the spot.

    It was alleged that the NSCDC officials were randomly carting away traders’ wares. When Mrs Dansu resisted, she was physically abused and eventually shot. Effort by onlookers to save her life failed.

    AJ said the inquest would determine the certification of the death of the deceased as alleged; the culpable officers; the true circumstances of the alleged killing; and any other facts that could help prevent a recurrence of such incidents in future.

    The group also requested that summons be issued on the Officer-in-Charge (OC) Legal, Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba; all other officers present at the scene of the crime on the date it occurred; and Dr N. Alao Nassifou of the Emergency Unit of Clinique Mutualiste De Cotonou.

    “We also request that the order should require that the proposed invitees produce all documentary statements (if any) made by the culprit officers as well as the death certificate and autopsy report,” AJ wrote.

    When the inquest came up before the District Coroner at the Yaba Magistrate’s Court, Sabo area, at the weekend, no NSCDC official attended.

    AJ’s lawyer Mr Onyeka Omofia said the corps was informed about the inquest. He, therefore, sought an adjournment.

    NSCDC had acknowledged the summons, a copy of which our correspondent obtained. It was signed by one of its officials, who wrote: “Original received by me NSCDC Zone A Alagbe Segun A. (IC), 18-08-2014.”

    Mrs Ipaye-Nwachukwu adjourned till October 3 for resumption of proceedings.

  • ‘No rift between police, civil defence’

    ‘No rift between police, civil defence’

    The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, said yesterday that there was no rift between the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    Ojukwu, an acting commissioner of Police, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on phone that the police and the NSCDC were members of the same family, working for one purpose.

    He dismissed reports that policemen attacked NSCDC operatives in their headquarters in Abuja.

    According to him, the story was untrue.

    Ojukwu said: “The Police and the Civil Defence are one family. Our relationship is that of a brother and a sister. We don’t have any problem with them.

    “The negative stories making the rounds about attacks are not true.”

    He said the police were investigating the alleged attempt by a police inspector to shoot others at the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Dr. Ade Abolurin, in Lagos.

    On August 22, NSCDC alleged that a police inspector attempted to fire at Abolurin in Ikorodu, Lagos.

    The Corps, last Friday, also alleged that about 10 policemen launched an attack on its men in front of the NSCDC headquarters in Abuja.

     

  • Our civil defence

    Our civil defence

    •The death of Citizen Babalola allegedly caused by the security agents should be probed

    For an organisation with the motto: “defending the defenceless”, one would naturally expect officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to be more civil in the line of duty. But the conduct of some of its officials that eventually led to the death of a 37-year-old accountancy graduate of the University of Lagos, Babalola Felix, last month, is a sharp contrast to this motto. The civil defence men were on a mission to rid the Meckwen Bridge, Victoria Island, Lagos State area of hoodlums. In the process, confusion set in as people around fled in different directions when they saw the security operatives.

    Unfortunately for Babalola who also joined the fleeing crowd, he slipped as he was running through a side of the bridge, and fell into the lagoon.

    The tragedy is not just that Babalola died; the real tragedy lies in the circumstances under which he died. As it is with anyone drowning against his will, Babalola struggled to live; he made up his mind to come out of the water and be arrested if it must get to that, instead of drowning. It was a hard decision he had to make in a split second to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea. But, in what was clearly a case of man’s inhumanity to man, some of the civil defence men preferred him drowned. Not only did they prevent people from rescuing him, one of them reportedly pointed a gun at him, threatening to shoot if he tried to come out of the water.

    It is sad to note that the Babalola family is a victim of everything that is bad and ugly in Nigeria. Here was a young man who struggled to send himself to school and even after graduating from the university and could not get a job, was assisted by his uncle to start selling recharge cards. A country where things work would not have left its youths to rot away the way Babalola did after going through the rigours of university education. He did not take to crime like some of his colleagues would. Now, he has died like a common criminal.

    His younger sister who is a student at the Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa, had also sold recharge cards in the area before proceeding to the school for further studies. She is apparently financing her education with the proceeds of the business. Then their aged mother who had eye problem and had been assured by Babalola that he would fund her treatment as soon as he made enough money to do that. Sensing that her hope was gone, the poor woman passed out immediately she was told about her son’s death.

    We wonder why all manner of people will bear arms in a country where life means so little to some of our law enforcement agents. Our security agents should be trained such that they would know the implications of their actions. It was a similar incident that set the chain of reactions that culminated in the Arab Spring in 2010, which was sparked by the first protests that occurred in Tunisia on December 18, in Sidi Bouzid, following Mohammed Bouazizi’s self-immolation in protest of police corruption and ill treatment.

    The least the Nigerian state owes Babalola and his family is a thorough investigation of this matter with a view to ensuring justice for them. We know that nothing can be done to bring the dead back to life, but when the matter is investigated and culprits prosecuted and, if culpable, punished, it would send the right signal to other people in uniform who abuse their privileged positions. We have had more than enough of police brutality; we have had more than enough of military brutality. It would be suicidal to add that of the civil defence.

  • Residents allege attack by Civil Defence officials

    Residents allege attack by Civil Defence officials

    Residents Maba Inland in Ikorodu, Lagos, have accused officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) of violating their rights.

    It was alleged that an attempt was made on the life of NSCDC Commandant-General Dr Ade Abolurin on the Island last Friday during a tour by his committee constituted by the Attorney-General to access disposable and forfeited items.

    An unindentified police officer was said to have attempted to open fire on Abolurin and over 200 members of his committee who came to arrest some disposable forfeited items.

    The residents alleged that the NSCDC operatives, who raided the area in search of vandals broke into their homes and destroyed their properties.

    When The Nation visited the community on Saturday, the residents, who claimed that there was no confrontation between the police and the civil defence operatives, said some of them were attacked during the raid.

    A petty trader simply identified as Taye said: “I was in my shop when they arrived, shooting; they dragged me, our guest and my husband outside and forced us to sit on the floor. I tried to beg them but they kept beating us, alleging that we were vandals. They threatened to take me and my entire family to Abuja as criminals. It was when I told them that I am a member of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) that they allowed my husband to bring out his identity card. It was a female among them that pleaded that they should let us go, following which they released us. I thank God that I was not killed.”

    Another resident, Timilehin Adebayo, said: “I was sleeping when the Civil Defence men arrived. I was woken up by banging on my door. I shouted that they should hold on as I was naked. Before I could pick a dress, they broke into my room and met me naked. They still ransacked the house looking for any empty gallon.”

    Okoro Ejiofor, who said no fewer than 20 civil defence men stormed their compound, said: “They smashed my window in the name of searching for vandals and destroyed my properties. Can they go to Arepo and invade people’s houses like they did to ours? They simply felt that the poor cannot challenge them.”

    An Islamic cleric, Alhaji Tajudeen Ogunse, who condemned the invation, swore that there was no crisis between the police and operatives of the NSCDC.

    “The truth is that the community suffered in the hands of NSCDC. It was not a peaceful visit. Maybe, the Commandant General did not know what happened. He should go round and see how his men destroyed our properties including a church,” he said.

    Chief Isiaka Ejalonibu, an eyewitness, who expressed relief that no one was killed, said: “It was a reign of terror in this area. Everyone ran into their houses for fear of being killed by stray bullet. I got to know that there was something wrong when I heard gun shots and everyone ran into the house.”

    Force spokesperson, Emmanuel Ojukwu, a Deputy Commissioner (DCP), said the allegation was being investigated.

  • Civil Defence official ‘shoots’ woman dead 

    An official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to Lagos State command has allegedly shot a woman, Mrs Angelina Dansu, dead in Lagos.

    The tragedy, The Nation gathered, followed a pandemonium that ensued when some NSCDC officials arrived Saponkoji village near Ogogoro village on an Island in Apapa, Lagos.

    Their mission was said to be undefined as they allegedly to have fired sporadically into the air.

    Residents were said to have scampered for safety during the drama that lasted several hours, but luck ran out on the victim when the officials stormed her shop where she was selling kerosene.

    An eyewitness, who identified herself simply as Bose, said the officials entered the woman’s shop on Wednesday and attempted to forcefully seize her petroleum product, which she vehemently resisted.

    The source said Mrs Dansu was nearly beaten to coma and stripped naked. When they threatened to shoot her, she fled from the scene even in her nakedness, adding that one of the officials opened fire on her and the bullet hit her lap.

    The source said residents ran into their homes and remained there for about an hour before coming out one after the other to find the victim dead.

    The deceased’s husband, Paul, who told The Nation that he was not at home when the incident occurred, said he returned to hear the news of the killing of his wife by the NSCDC officials.

    The man who had not recovered from the shock said his wife was not a petroleum pipeline vandal as being suspected by the officials.

    He said she bought kerosene with her money and was retailing the product when the officials came to seize it.

    Paul, who lamented that the officials had left him with the burden of caring for their four children, said he was told that the officials came with guns, arrow, and cutlasses, among other weapons with which they broke into people’s houses, destroying doors in search of petroleum products.

    All efforts to reach the spokesman of state command of the Corps, Kehinde Bada, on telephone, failed.

  • ‘How to make Civil Defence work’

    ‘How to make Civil Defence work’

    The Sokoto State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Alhaji Yushau Aliyu, has called for support for the Corps to enable it discharge its responsibilities to Nigerians.

    Alhaji Aliyu made the call while addressing newsmen on the activities to commemorate the 2014 Civil Defence Day with the theme; ‘’Civil Defence and Culture of Prevention for a Safer Society.’’

    Aliyu noted that it was necessary to strengthen the corps, adding that “it is indeed an essential to provide all that are necessary for optimal performance of the corps.

    ‘’We must create a culture of civil defence based on prevention rather than response.

    “While prevention is a vital factor, it is also a complex task that requires adaptation to new situations.

    ‘’Many emergency response simulation services should be inspired from the various types of risks that exist to enhance the response capacity and proper handling of emergency interventions,’’ he added.

    He maintained that prevention programmes should focus on areas such as risk assessment through adoption and development of national as well as regional mechanisms and tools.

    ‘’The implementation of these programmes involves close co-operation with higher authorities and monitoring from the private and public sectors,” he said.

  • Civil Defence arrests teenager, 29 ‘pipeline vandals’

    In a bid to sustain the war against oil thieves and pipeline vandals, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), last Saturday arrested 30 people for alleged pipeline vandalism including two teenagers.

    Azeez Ajani, 12 and Michael Oyedotun 13 were nabbed alongside six women and a pastor, Nikuleyi Adesola.

    The suspects were picked at Isheri Olofin, Ogun State by officials of the Lagos and Ogun commands of NSCDC.

    The suspects all denied the allegations, saying they were not pipeline vandals.

    The Ogun State NSCDC boss, Akinwande Aboluwoye, said the suspected vandals were nabbed with 400 jerry cans of fuel containing 50 litres of fuel and their canoes were also apprehended.

    Aboluwoye said the canoes were set ablaze while security was beefed up in the area, adding: “The vandals engaged us in a gun duel and when the heat became too much, they abandoned the products, jumped into the water and escaped. However, we apprehended their cohorts who actually live in the area.”

    The commandant said the suspects would be charged to court this week. He said past investigations proved that women and children were also involved in the illegitimate business.

  • Civil Defence arrests 15 suspected oil thieves

    Fifteen suspected oil thieves were arrested in the last six months by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Bayelsa State.

    The corps also prosecuted seven suspects for pipeline vandalism and oil bunkering within the period.

    The Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, said yesterday that the suspects were arrested for oil-related offences between January and June.

    He said operatives of the command impounded six trucks loaded with crude oil and illegally- refined petroleum products.

    Agu said the command also burnt three speedboats containing adulterated and illegally-refined fuel.

    He said operatives of the command, on surveillance of the Shell Petroleum Development Company’s (SPDC’s) pipelines in June, impounded and burnt three big wooden boats.

    According to him, the boats were impounded with stolen crude oil at Akalamini.

    He said the command received and mediated on 20 civil cases involving communities.

    Mr. Agu said the corps, as part of the state’s security outfit, “Operation Doo Akpo”, had contributed to the peace being enjoyed by the indigenes by tackling criminal activities.

    He said a suspect that operated an illegal private guard company was apprehended by the corps.

    Said he: “The corps participated in the last local government elections. Officers and men of the NSCDC were mobilised and posted to locations to ensure a hitch-free election.

    “The corps has not also been left out in the area of crowd control. We are determined to stamp out vandalism, oil bunkering and other vices.”