Tag: NSCDC

The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Audi, has inducted newly trained commanders of the corps tasked with the responsibility of responding to citizens’ needs during emergencies, especially in cases of accidents.

The corps said the commanders were trained as part of measures to uphold the Corps’ statutory responsibilities of ensuring safety, and security and providing succour to citizens during emergencies.

Audi said they were the first to be trained for the onerous task, noting that their performance would be monitored for improvement and further developments.

 Speaking at the event which was held at the national headquarters of the Corps in Sauka, Abuja, Audi said training and re-training of personnel is necessary for effective performance and career development.

He added that the incident commanders have been trained for immediate and timely response to crises and emergencies.

Represented by the Deputy Commandant General Technical Services Directorate; DCG Ibrahim Zakari Ningi, the NSCDC boss reiterated that training and manpower development are prioritized under the present administration and would continue to enhance effective service delivery.

“The world is advancing technologically and the Corps is doing her possible best to upscale the skills of personnel to be at par with international best practices”, he said.

While congratulating the graduands for their endurance and resilience throughout the training period; he further charged them to continue on the part of excellence, professionalism and implicit adherence to the Corps’ ethical standard.

“Let me on this note urge you to embrace this maiden opportunity with humility and a sense of responsibility; remember to whom much is given much more is expected

“It is pertinent that you always act in the best interest of the people you were called to serve and uphold the values of the Corps with pride, humility and credibility, the CG said.

Speaking at the event, the international coordinator of the International Crisis Response Course, Commandant Akpan Edike said the training initiative was borne out of the Commandant General’s passion for Personnel capacity building which began in 2021 on a virtual platform, adding that over 11,000 officers are currently learning and graduating from the platform.

Read Also: Safe Schools Initiative: NSCDC adopts sensitisation strategy

The coordinator added that the granduants have successfully passed 10 courses which were drawn from a wide range of specialised areas such as protection and assistance against chemical warfare agents, prevention and countering violent extremism through non-kinetic approaches, paramedics and disaster management, flood mitigation, and management, drone piloting and management amongst others.

Commandant Edike also acknowledged the collaborating institutions for Course Certification such as the Prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife Osun state, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and the International Crisis Response Institute.  

Arrests two suspected oil thieves, impounds 55 cellophane bags of crude, others in Abia

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 10 suspected criminals in both Anambra and  Abia states.

In Anambra State, eight illegal private guards were arrested by the NSCDC, following a crackdown on unlicensed private security guards in Awka, the state capital.

State Commandant, Maku Olatunde who disclosed this to newsmen, said four pump action guns with 16 live cartridges were recovered from the suspect.

Read Also: 2021: My vision for Anambra State – Soludo

Parading the suspects at the Command Headquarters on Friday, Maku said the suspects were apprehended following a raid carried out on Thursday by NSCDC operatives in Awka.

He noted that NSCDC, as the regulatory body of the Private Security Guards, remained committed to checkmating their activities, especially in light of the present security challenges.

He said, “We are here in continuation of the execution of the NSCDC mandate, and we have not left any stone unturned in discharging our responsibilities.

“The charge given to me by Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps is to go and deliver on the core mandate of the Corps in Anambra State.

The arrests were made in response to intelligence reports and the need to sanitize the security industry allowing only licensed and reputable private security companies to operate in the state,” he said.

Maku named the first three suspects, staff of RSS, arrested at Kwata Junction Awka, while a member of G7 AVG security outfit was arrested at G7 Plaza St Joseph Road Awka.

He said the other four suspects were arrested providing security services to hotels.

“Meanwhile, four (4) pump action guns with 16 live cartridges were also recovered from them.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that some of the arrested suspects were impersonating the Anambra Vigilante Group ( AVG) while others were hired by hotels to provide security services, despite knowing that the outfits were not licensed or registered.

“Consequently, all the suspects are currently undergoing investigation, after which they would be charged to the competent court of jurisdiction for prosecution,” he added.

Expressing optimism that the ongoing raid would assist in preventing the proliferation of illegal security outfits and reduce the risk of security breaches and criminal activities, NSCDC vowed to clamp down on any illegal outfit, arrest and prosecute their operators, and recover illegal weapons in their possession.

“With this tough stance, the command aims to restore sanity in the operations of the private security sector and ensure the safety and security of all Anambra residents. This arrest and recovery of weapons is a significant achievement in the effort to reduce crime in the state

“With NSCDC in place, the only agency charged with the responsibility of licensing, monitoring, and the supervision of private securities companies in Nigeria, no one will operate illegally as a private guard company again in Anambra State.

“We are going to flush them out, and every one of their activities is forbidden in the state. I want to put all illegal security outfits on notice to dismantle their operations or face the consequences,” he added.

The NSCDC helmsman further urged the public to report any suspicious activities or illegal security outfits to the Corps for prompt action, warning licensed private guard companies to operate within the bounds of the law and avoid engaging in illegal activities, as any violation will attract severe sanctions.

Operatives arrest two suspected oil thieves, impounds 55 cellophane bags of crude, others

Also in Abia, the NSCDC operatives arrested two suspects in connection with their involvement in the vandalisation of petroleum pipelines, crude oil theft, and other illegal dealings in petroleum products.

Parading the suspects before journalists at the Command Headquarters in Umuahia, the state capital, the State Commandant of the federal government agency, Usman Ishaq Alfadarai, said the suspects were arrested at Shell WellHead 26 Owaza, Ukwa West Local Government Area of the state, following what he disclosed as “actionable intelligence.”

Narrating further on how the suspects were apprehended, Commandant Alfadarai said: “The arrest was made possible through a joint operation involving the NSCDC, DSS and Shell internal security operatives.

The successful arrest of the suspects who the state Commandant revealed have been on the Abia NSCDC wanted list is considered a major breakthrough in the command’s unreserved commitment to win the war against oil pipeline vandalism, Crude Oil theft, and all forms of illegal dealings in petroleum products.

The joint operation, the Commandant maintained, was a reflection of the healthy synergy,  existing among the security agencies in the State.”

The suspects gave their names as: Samson Koki (m) (25yrs) from Okoloba, Delta State and Zakari Yakubu (m) (18yrs).

Items recovered from the suspects include one long blue hose used in siphoning petroleum products from the pipelines and about fifty five (55) numbers of cellophane packs containing products suspected to be crude oil.

The State Commandant praised the gallantry and professionalism displayed by his men in the successful coordination of the arrest which he said is in line with the directives of the Commandant General – CG Ahmed Abububakar Audi to sustain the onslaught against vandals and other economic saboteurs operating across the country.

He, however, seized the opportunity to thank the public for their confidence in the Corps as being demonstrated in providing timely information while assuring that every information received will not only be given prompt attention but will also be treated with utmost confidentiality.

He called on those engaging in vandalism of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure,  illegal dealings in petroleum products, and other criminal activities to turn a new leaf or be prepared to face the consequences of their actions.

Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Anambra State have arrested eight illegal private guards in a recent crackdown on unlicensed private security guards in Awka, the state capital.

State Commandant, Maku Olatunde who disclosed this to newsmen, said four pump action guns with 16 live cartridges were recovered from the suspects.

Parading the suspects at the Command Headquarters on Friday, Maku said they were apprehended following a raid on Thursday by NSCDC operatives in Awka.

He noted that NSCDC, as the regulatory body of the Private Security Guards, remained committed to checkmating their activities especially in the light of the current security challenges.

According to him: “We are here in continuation of the execution of the NSCDC mandate, and we have not left any stone unturned in discharging our responsibilities. 

“The charge given to me by Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps is to go and deliver on the core mandate of Corps in Anambra State.

“The arrests were made in response to intelligence reports and the need to sanitize the security industry allowing only licensed and reputable private security companies to operate in the state,” he said.

Maku named the first three suspects, staff of RSS, arrested at Kwata Junction Awka, while a member of G7 AVG security outfit was arrested at G7 plaza St Joseph Road  Awka.

Read Also: Ex-NSCDC boss warns against moves to merge Corps with police

He said the other four suspects, were arrested providing security services to hotels.

“Meanwhile, four (4) pump action guns with 16 live cartridges were also recovered from them .

“Preliminary investigation revealed that some of the arrested suspects were impersonating the Anambra Vigilante Group ( AVG) while others were  hired  by hotels to provide security services, despite knowing that the outfits were not licensed or registered.

“Consequently, all the suspects are currently undergoing investigation, after which they would be charged to the competent court of jurisdiction for prosecution,” he added.

Expressing optimism that the ongoing raid would assist to prevent the proliferation of illegal security outfits and reduce the risk of security breaches and criminal activities, NSCDC vowed to clamp down on any illegal outfit, arrest and prosecute their operators and recover illegal weapons in their possession.

“With this tough stance, the command aims to restore sanity in the operations of the private security sector and ensure the safety and security of all Anambra residents.This arrest and recovery of weapons is a significant achievement in the effort to reduce crime in the state

“With NSCDC in place, the only agency charged with the responsibility of licensing, monitoring and the supervision of private securities companies in Nigeria, no one will operate illegally as a private guard company again in Anambra State.

“We are going to flush them out, and every of their activities is forbidden in the state. I want to put all illegal security outfits on notice to dismantle their operations or face the consequences” he added.

A retired Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Desmond Agu, has warned against moves to convince the Federal Government to merge the Corps with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

Agu, who until his retirement, was a commandant in six States, urged the Federal Government to shun any individual lobbying for such meger saying it would worsen the security challenges in the country.

Describing the security challenges as multifaceted, Agu said coordinated multiple approaches were needed to confront them adding that the NSCDC has filled significant part of the void.

Desmond, who spoke in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said it was obvious that persons seeking the merger were ignorant of the roles of NSCDC as a special purpose security vehicle.

He said NSCDC’s special roles of protecting and safeguarding critical national infrastructures and monitoring the activities of private security companies among others would be undermined by such merger.

Agu recalled that the Federal Government’s white paper on the Orosonya Report recognised the special roles of NSCDC and called for  strengthening the corps to enhance its performance as an independent entity instead of merging it with any other force.

Read Also: NSCDC rescues ‘10 victims’ of human trafficking

The former NSCDC boss said: “We must kill the idea of merging the NSCDC with the Nigeria Police Force because doing so will worsen the security challenges in the country.

“NSCDC was created by the Constitution as a special vehicle to tackle unique and critical security challenges affecting mostly the national economy. The corps is designed to protect critical security infrastructures such as oil pipelines, electrical installations among others.

“It is important to note that any attempt to merge NSCDC with the police will blur these critical roles and slow down the ongoing recovery of the National economy. Those, who are promoting this idea for whatever reason should jettison it because it will not do the country any good.

“Since its establishment, NSCDC has been professionally discharging it’s responsibilities, building public confidence in its activities. What the corps needs is better financing to keep performing it’s critical roles and not this merger”.