NSCDC CG Reads Riot Act to Criminals

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi, has said his men were now prepared to speak to bandits and criminal elements in the language they understood.

Speaking at the passing out parade of 267 men and officers of the Corps trained in arms handling, Audi implored them to brace up and “speak to bandits and criminals in the language they understand.”

The CG, while warning them that he had zero tolerance for accidental discharges, said with their training, they should be able to evolve professional tactics in discharging their duties of curbing criminalities in the country.

“You now have the training and arms to enforce the law in the country. There should be no excuse,” he said.

He added that, “From the reports I received from their training and the parade we witnessed today (Monday), there is ample evidence that these officers and men have passed through an intense and very rigorous training and have come out ready and well-prepared to contribute their quota to the actualisation of the Corps mandate.

“Please, be aware that, this is just the beginning. Ahead of you lie years of service to the people of this great country, which I am confident you will perform with the traditional flair and selfless devotion to duty.

“Your passing out today is coming at a period the nation is passing through intensive security challenges, and as the forms and manifestations of insecurity are constantly evolving, law enforcement responses have to equally evolve in order to stay ahead of the criminals.

“As part of efforts to rejig and reposition the Corps for effective service delivery, this Administration has intensified the regimental and capacity building training and retraining of our staff and I will ensure that this is sustained across all Commands and formations of the Corps towards the fulfilment of our core mandates,” he added.

He noted that the Corps have been involved in combat operations against terrorist groups in the North East, anti-banditry operations in the North Central Region and various operations in the South-south, South-east and the Southwest regions of the country against the enemies,who were bent on crippling the economy of the nation by engaging in wanton destruction of lives and critical national asset and infrastructure, which included crude oil and petroleum facilities.

His words: “On our part, we will continue to demonstrate zero tolerance for crime and criminality and those who take laws into their hands, who bear arms illegally, and who seek to profit from a climate of fear and insecurity will also be dealt with accordingly, because the peace and stability of our dear country is very sacrosanct and I have come with renewed vigour to rid the country of all forms of crimes through effective deployment of our capabilities.”

Meanwhile, a job scammer, Gabriel Kingsley, has been nabbed by the NSCDC while leading 100 job seekers to Kaduna to set up a training camp.

Parading the job scammer and his 100 victims to the press yesterday, the spokesman of the NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu, said he collected at least N100,000 from his victims to give them the “fake” job and he was leading them to Kaduna from Abuja for screening of their credentials and subsequent training.

Odumosu said: “The war against job scamming and racketeering is beginning to yield good result under the administration of Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, the Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, as the Corps’ special Female Squad, which was recently set up and launched by the CG, apprehended some suspects number over 100 , after receiving some intelligent tips from NSCDC intelligent operatives.”

He said after the arrest, and they were profiled and interrogated, it was discovered that the suspects were only in possession of their credentials for documentation and more findings revealed that the suspects came from different parts of the country and were instructed to converge at Kubwa General Hospital for onward transportation to Kaduna for their issuance of appointment letters and documentation exercise.

He said: “It was also revealed by some of the suspects during interrogation that some ransom were paid by them to the coordinator with a promise to secure the Job.

He said the suspects whose age ranged from 25 to 45 years were currently feeding the Corps with information that could enable the it trace and track other members of the syndicates.

He reiterated that the NSCDC recruitment exercise was transparent and free of corruption and that nobody should be deceived to pay any ransom or follow any illegal means to secure the job as the wrath of the law would not spare anyone found wanting or engaging in any unscrupulous acts.