*Peace Corps is a breeding ground for terrorists, subversive elements, say police
Dele Ogbodo
The police, Department of State Services (DSS) and the army on Wednesday clamped down on the operations of the Nigeria Peace Corps, saying the law does not recognise it as a security outfit.
According to the police, the Commandant of the Nigeria Peace Corps, Mr. Dickson Akoh, and 49 of his members will soon be charged to court for operating illegal quasi security outfit.
Addressing journalists during the parade in Abuja, the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Jimoh Moshood, who spoke on behalf of the DSS and army, said the joint operations for the dismantling of the illegal security outfits would be carried out throughout the country.
According to the PRO, intelligence reports at its disposal revealed that some of the illegal and unapproved security outfits have started acquiring weapons and conducting covert military training in different locations across the country.
He said: “In 2013, federal government gazette dissolved and proscribed the Nigerian Maritime Security Agency (NMSA), Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps and the Nigerian Merchant Navy Petroleum Security and Safety, the Peace Corps of Nigeria and other quasi illegal security outfits.”
Moshood said the outfits have been involved in illegal importation and smuggling of arms and ammunition which is outside their mandate as they were registered by CAC as non-governmental organisation (NGO).
He accused Akoh of operating illegal training camps in FCT, Kwara and Niger States where youths were paying N50,000 without background checks expected of security outfits, adding that it has become apparent that subversive elements and terrorists have infiltrated the Peace Corps of Nigeria to cause havoc in the society.
“The corps has unlawfully turned itself into a security outfit without authorisation of government and has deviated from the purposes for which it was established by CAC as an NGO”
However, while fielding questions from journalists, Akoh said he was disappointed by the three security outfits for saying that it is operating illegally, adding that the organisation is duly recognised by the National Assembly as the Senate has its bill for its formation.
He said the money collected from the youths was for uniforms, shoes and hotel accommodation, during their recruitment, adding that the uniform is recognised by government, the African Union and the United Nations.
Akoh said: “One of our functions is re-orientation of the youths for civility and character reformation. We have been unjustifiably arrested and brutalised in the course of our legal duty. As we speak, the EFCC and ICPC are currently investigating us on the money we collect from registered members.”
Also narrating her ordeal during the arrest, Mrs. Amao Aminat said she is a nursing mother and was arrested without due regard to her baby and families since their office was shut last Tuesday in Abuja.
