Tag: NSCDC

The Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),  Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has vowed to fish out killers of four corps’ operatives in Rivers State.

Audi, who spoke in Port Harcourt during his visit to Rivers State to condole with the families of the deceased, charged the personnel to be resolute saying there should be no compromise in the ongoing war against oil theft.

The victims were killed by gunmen at Alakiri, Degema local Government Area of Rivers state.

Audi said the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, sympathised with the deceased families insisting that the blood of the officers would not be a waste.

He said: “Let me first of all condole with you as a Command and the families of our gallant men who lost their lives some few days ago while on official duty. This is part of the hazards of the job and we pray that God would grant the families the fortitude to hear the loss.

“I bring to you the message of the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo who has asked me to tell you that the blood of these gallant men will not be a waste. All hands are on deck as the Corps would contact their next of kin to process necessary benefits in order to serve as a succour to the families.

“I will not reveal to the public our operational strategies in order to bring the perpetrators to book but definitely we are in collaboration with Sister Security Agencies and I assure you that Justice will be served “.

Audi  lauded the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unflinching support in enhancing the capacity and operational efficiency of the NSCDC through the provision of gunboats and different welfare packages.

He said that the appointment of the present Minister of Interior was a tremendous blessing to the corps describing the the minister as a man with great passion for the four agencies under his watch.

He added that the Minister had come to deliver and impact positively in consonance with the Renewed Hope agenda of Mr. President.

The CG further charged all Personnel to continue to put in their best in utmost loyalty, dedication and discipline.

 Speaking on the numerous challenges faced by the corps, Audi said he was committed to tackling them.

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He said the  corps under his watch  had made a headway by clearing all the backlogs of promotion and arrears inherited from the previous administration.

 He reeled out some of the achievements of the corps since assumed office especially  the introduction of Career Progression Development Courses and the establishment of the NSCDC Command and Staff College in Jos.

Audi said henceforth the promotion of officers to a new rank would be based on merit and performances noting that there would be no longer room for promotion stagnation.

The NSCDC Commandant-General also charged the new recruits on training to remain focused, fit and agile adding that the success of an officer was based on diligent service, commitment and loyalty.

He said the corps upscaled its disciplinary system by the introduction of Standard Operating Procedures and Code of conduct to check, correct and punish erring officers.

He said persons found guilty had earlier been shown the way out of service through summary dismissal while others were either demoted or sanctioned.

Speaking further on the reviewing of Salaries and allowances, the CG said efforts  ongoing by the government through the Minister of Interior to make the welfare a priority.

 Audi spoke on the need for fairness, empathy and accountability in leadership and urged the young officers to remain unwavering in loyalty void of eye service.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) FCT command have arrested fifteen suspected vandals and scavengers in Abuja and its environs.

Parading the suspects at the FCT Command Headquarters, Wuse, Abuja, the FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, said the suspects were caught in different parts of the territory in the wee hours of the night.

He said they have been targeting infrastructures in the city for vandalisation and theft, adding that investigations showed that they have been stealing, and snatching bags and phones from innocent citizens in the city. 

He said items recovered from the suspects are, burglary irons,  one Lexus ES 330 vehicle used in conveying stolen items, vandalised transmission cables, a climbing Belt, a hammer, screwdriver, three measuring tapes, four spanners, a compass, helmet, three reflective jackets, hacksaw, sets of ladies earrings, bags, one cart, and one pumping machine.

Odumosu said that the apprehended suspects would be prosecuted according to their offences and in accordance with the law to make them accountable for their actions and to serve as a deterrent to others. 

Upon interrogation, one of the suspects was caught vandalizing telecommunication cables at the Wuse Zone 4 area of the territory and identified himself as an engineer carrying out maintenance work for a supposed registered engineering company.

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He was, however, unable to provide satisfactory responses, documents, or permits to ascertain his claim to undertake the job. His two other accomplices are at large but efforts are ongoing to capture the fleeing suspects.

Odumosu said: “The act of vandalism is not only a crime but it also inhibits the effective functioning of critical infrastructure.

“Critical infrastructures are vital to the survival of our nation, and any encumbrance on them poses great risk to our security, safety, and other essential services.”

Determined to ensure free, fair and credible gubernatorial elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has deployed 22,600 personnel for the November 11, gubernatorial polls.

The Commandant General (CG), of the Corps, Ahmed Audi, ordered the deployment of the personnel to beef up security in the states alongside other Security agencies.

Audi charged his men to maintain high ethical standards, discipline, professional conduct and remain apolitical throughout the elections.

The CG in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Service, Babawale Afolabi, reiterated the commitment of the Corps to support democratic governance and processes.

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He explained that the deployment is to provide water-tight security for the electorate, officials, other stakeholders, as well as sensitive and non-sensitive materials before, during and after the exercise in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders.

He extended his call to residents of the three states, urging them to cooperate with the NSCDC and sister agencies and shun any act capable of thwarting the strategic plans put on the ground for the peaceful conduct of the elections.

He warned that any attempt to breach the peace or cause damage to critical national assets and infrastructure would not be allowed.

The CG warns against any act of thuggery, ballot box snatching, and other acts capable of truncating the exercise and called on politicians to caution their supporters, emphasizing that sabotage will not be condoned.

“The Corps made the mass deployment in the affected states where elections are to be held. Our personnel are adequately briefed on how to discharge their duties in synergy with other security agencies and stakeholders”, CG added.

He assured: “We will remain neutral on the field to ensure the security of electorate, other stakeholders and election officials and no act of sabotage will be tolerated.”

“To have a hitch-free exercise, undercover operatives, Arms Squad, operatives in the Counter-Terrorism, CG’s Special Intelligence Squad, Female Special Force, Rapid Response Squad, Crack Squad and Anti-vandal Unit are all detailed to prevent any vacuum which saboteurs may leverage on to perpetrate any act that could breach the peace in the states.”

Gunmen identified as pirates terrorising the Bakana waterways in Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State, have killed four operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Bodies of the deceased personnel were seen packed in a boat floating at the river bank in a viral video.

Sympathisers identified some of the victims as Chibuzo and Chief Priest.

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It was gathered that two Muslims out of the four victims were buried according to Islamic rites while the others were deposited at the mortuary.

The Corp’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Olufemi Ayodele, could not be reached for comments.

The operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have arrested 11 suspected illegal miners, and scavengers.

The Commandant, Olusola Odumosu reaffirmed the commitment of the Command to smoke out vandals and other criminals in the FCT, Abuja.

Odumosu maintained that the Command would continue to ensure peace and combat the spate of crime, and safeguard all critical assets and Infrastructures under the new FCT administration.

Speaking while parading the suspects at the FCT Command Headquarters, Wuse, Abuja, Odumosu said 11 suspects were arrested for illegal Mining, vandalism, and Scavenging in different parts of the territory.

Odumosu said: “Let me relay unequivocally that the protection of all Critical National Assets and Infrastructures in the FCT is not negotiable.

“As the lead agency saddled with this responsibility under the law, we will relentlessly discharge our duties without compromise.

“Based on this resolve, the Command has effected the arrest of these 11 suspects out of which 5 are suspected illegal miners, 4 suspected vandals of public assets and infrastructures, and 2 suspected scavengers.

“Upon sighting our team, a lot of them took to their heels but this effort will be sustained with more reinforcement to stop their existence in that location.”

“The suspected illegal miners were arrested by the Mines and Steel Development unit of the Command after a tip-off for engaging in illegal excavation activities which have led to the vandalism and destruction of critical infrastructures such as transmission cables, transformers and degradation of a part of Katampe Extension where they were picked up.

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“However, during a search operation conducted in their huts, 5 cartons of tiles were found and an item suspected to be a used explosive bottle which will be further investigated.

She gave the names of the suspects arrested for illegal mining activities are; Abubakar Suleman, 43yrs (M) from Kastina State, Sanusi Abubakar, 21years (M) from Kano State, Abdullahi Musa, 18yrs (M) from Kano State, Adamu Hashiru, 31years (M) from Bauchi State, and Ibrahim Abdullahi, 30years from Bauchi State.

Other Suspects arrested for Vandalism of Government Infrastructures and Scavenging are; Ayu Isimailu (M), 25years who hails from Gombe State, Micheal Joseph (M), 30 years from Kaduna State, Solomon Leo (M), 40years from Kaduna State, Aliyu Shamsudeen (M), 18years from Plateau State, Kashim Mustapha (M), 45years from Oyo State and Onyeishi Monday (M) 43years from Delta State.

The Commandant explained: “We have commenced thorough investigations to unravel their level of involvement in the offences charged.

“Rest assured that those found culpable would be prosecuted and if otherwise, be set free after due diligence is observed and in accordance with the extant laws.”

Odumosu said there would be a continuous collaboration with other security agencies to sustain the current tempo, and solicited consistent information and actionable Intelligence from the public to rid the FCT of bad elements.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Bauchi state has arrested a suspected gay, Abdullahi Ibrahim for the alleged murder of a 17-year-old secondary school student.

The final year student of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria was said to have made homosexual advances towards the deceased, even sharing explicit photos.

The corps commandant of the NSCDC, Ilelaboye Oyejide, while parading the suspect on Monday, October 23, revealed that the 500-level student of Veterinary Medicine was taken into custody in Misau Local Government Area of the state on suspicion of being involved in the teenager’s death.

According to the commandant, Umar Usman, the deceased, was discovered wrapped in a cloth and abandoned at Misau bypass.

Oyejide further revealed that, through their investigative efforts, they uncovered a chat history between the suspect, Ibrahim, and the deceased, Usman.

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In the conversations, Oyejide said it was evident that the suspect had made homosexual advances towards the deceased, even sharing explicit photos.

He said: “When the deceased decided to meet the suspect, a tragic confrontation ensued, leading to the stabbing of Usman. Subsequently, his lifeless body was concealed in a white cloth and left where it was later discovered. This is a case of culpable homicide.”

He explained that on October 20, the lifeless body of Usman was located, taken to General Hospital Misau, where he was declared dead, and then handed over to his family for burial.

The commandant detailed that upon receiving this information, the command initiated an extensive investigation into the incident by dispatching a highly capable intelligence team to Misau.

The commandant said during the investigation, the suspect confessed to the crime and would soon be charged in court.

He said the suspect, Ibrahim confessed that the deceased approached him with a knife which led to a struggle that resulted in him stabbing the deceased to death in self-defense.

Speaking in an interview with newsmen the suspect said: “I was really afraid because it was something I have never encountered in my life. That is why I wrapped the dead body in a cloth and dumped it along the bypass side.”

The Rivers State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has read the riot Act to its personnel, saying it will not spare any officer involved in illegal oil bunkering.

The State Commandant of NSCDC, Basil Igwebueze, said the command was committed to curtailing the menace of oil theft, and pipeline vandalism.

Basil read the riot act to officers serving in the anti-vandal, marine units, the component commanders, and general duty officers in Port Harcourt.

He stressed that the Commandant-General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has zero tolerance for any act that would denigrate the corporate image of the NSCDC across the nation.

He spoke on the need to imbibe professionalism, discipline and implicit compliance with the Corps’ Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and ethical values.

The NSCDC said: “Upon my assumption of duty you were adequately briefed that my deployment to Rivers State is to effectively prosecute the Core mandate and nothing else.

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“We will not hesitate to show you the way out if you are caught conniving with economic saboteurs who for their selfish reasons have refused to cease fire in their illegal dealings in petroleum products.

“Lately the authority of the Command had received allegations that some security agencies were engaging in the escort of bunkered badges and tankers, collection of tolls, patrol with unmarked vehicles and fibre boats via the waterways

“Let me sound a note of warning to any personnel with such intentions that as soon as we receive your report, you will be officially charged and dismissed according to the extant laws guiding the Corps.”

He said within the three months of his assumption of duty, the command arrested 105 suspects for illegal dealings on petroleum products, criminal conspiracy to aid the operation of illegal oil bunkering activities, illegal mining, and dredging, advance fee fraud, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) among others.

Basil said the command secured nine convictions within the period to bring the total number of convicts to 14.

He solicited more credible and actionable Intelligence from the public and affirmed that the command under his watch was fully ready to partner with reputable stakeholders in the government, civil society organization, Religious leaders, Community youths, and Sister Security agencies in order to rid Rivers State of the menace of Oil theft and its negative effects on the environment.