Four days after the abduction four landlords, who were seized by dislodged militia at the Lagos and Ogun creeks, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), yesterday said they were gathering useful intelligence that will help secure their release. The NSCDC Lagos State Commandant, Mr. Tajudeen Balogun, made this disclosure during a courtesy to THISDAY Newspapers corporate head office in Apapa, Lagos.
While describing himself as an ardent THISDAY reader back to his days in the Katsina Command of the corps, Balogun alongside his entourage, was received by the Director of Corporate Services, Mr. Emmanuel Efeni and the News Editor, Mr. Davidson Iriekpen. Reassuring Nigerians that the agency was capable of protecting lives and property, he said already, the agency was working on improving its intelligence gathering technique to enable them serve the nation effectively whenever the occasion arises.
On the Isheri abduction, although he declined to reveal their operational strategies as regarding attempts to rescue the hostages, he however expressed optimism that the security operatives will rise to the task. Gunmen suspected to be armed militia had last week Saturday morning stormed Isheri community in military uniforms and kidnapped four landlords who were doing their routine exercise and took them through the bush path to unknown destinations He said: “All security agencies are working together to ensure they are all rescued and this is in conjunction with the local community.
All hands must be on deck.” Refuting claims that the kidnapping occurred because the Operation Awatse Taskforce, a joint taskforce comprising the Armed Forces, the police, DSS and NSCDC, had relapsed on security, he said the reverse was the case. He said although the major work had been done by the air power of the Air Force, while the ground forces carried out mopping, they had not abandoned the operation.
Balogun said what was obtainable at the area was that the security operatives were more of working as undercover in plain clothes, as against wearing their military uniforms. He also called on Nigerians to always report suspicious ovements by passing such information to the security operatives, so as to save the situation. On the corps he said, “We are associated with efficiency and effectiveness. Our mission is efficiency, humility and integrity in service delivery. Those three words are germane to us.
Earlier, the Director of Corporate Services, Mr. Emmanuel Efeni, commended the agency for always conducting itself in a civil manner while relating with civilians.
