Michael Olugbode in Abuja and Fidelis David in Akure
The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi, yesterday said the corps has zero tolerance for accidental discharge of riffle by any personnel, insisting that officers must be grounded in arms handling.
Audi, made the statement at the Passing Out Parade of course 10 Basic Arms and Weapon Handling Training in Abuja.
This is just as NSCDC has approved the deployment of 1,000 tactical personnel drawn from the divisional offices, area commands and the state headquarters for security coverage during the forthcoming Salah celebration within Ondo State.
Audi said: “Our service does not welcome any accidental discharge and any trigger happy officer that kills a civilian will face the law and will be court marshal.”
He warned them that they are not trained to kill except on rare cases when they must have observed all the rules of engagement clearly stated in the corps’ Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), and they could not but shoot.
Audi pointed out that officers have the mandate to protect all critical national assets such as oil pipelines hence, the agency must ensure that there is no compromise whatsoever in carrying out the sacrosanct duty.
He said: “There must be no compromise, you must all dedicate yourselves to eradicate oil theft therefore, we must arrest and eradicate oil thieves who are good at vandalising our oil pipelines.
“The body language of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu shows he means well for Nigeria in ensuring an end to oil theft and the NSCDC has aligned into his vision.
The CG said the training exercise of course 10 which spanned for about eight weeks is part of a continuous training programme of his agency to ensure officers are fit and able to carry out every function in the course of their duty effectively.
He said: “Aside the training of over 10,000 officers and men in Arms and Weapon Handling, other specialized areas have been created and keenly nurtured such as the CGs Intelligence squad, CGs Anti Vandal squad, CGs Marine squad, RRS, (Rapid Response Squad), Female squad, Crack squad and the most recent, the Safe School Initiative saddled with the responsibility of safe-guarding our schools from outlaws.”
Audi further listed other key initiatives to include the provision of operational and official vehicles, welfare of officers and payment of arrears and backlog payment of death benefits as well as the development of the Standard Operating Procedure, (SOP), for the entire Corps, creation of more training schools in Nasarawa, Enugu and Jos and the creation of the Standard Curriculum template for NSCDC Training Colleges among others.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Commandant of NSCDC, Olatundun Olayinka has approved the deployment of 1,000 tactical personnel for security coverage during the forthcoming Salah celebration within the state.
In a statement made available to Journalists in Akure yesterday by the Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr Daniel Aidamenbor, the NSCDC commandant explained that the tactical team are personnel, drawn from Counter Terrorism Unit, Special Female Squad, Agro Rangers, Surveillance Team, Rapid Response Squad, Motorized patrol team, Chemical,Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) unit amongst others.
Olayinka noted that the personnel are to strategically man and patrol flash points, black spots recreational areas, markets, shopping malls, parks,and highly populated areas, worship centres and other essential areas to protect critical national assets and infrastructure in the state as measures to curtail the pressure usually associated with the Salah period.
He charged the personnel to be diligent, civil and professional in the discharge of their duty, warning against any form of laxity and unprofessionalism in the discharge of their duty by putting in their best to ensure that lives and property are secured and all agro allied businesses protected.
“In line with the mandate of Corps to protect all critical national assets and infrastructure of government, the Corps will be collaborating with other sister agencies in the state to ensure a hitch free Salah celebration.”
“ The Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has mandated all our formations to spare nothing in ensuring that the nation is safe before, during and after this year’s eid el kabir and as a responsible agency of government, we shall go all out to keep the people of the Sunshine State safe.”
Olayinka also called on the people of the state to support the command with timely and actionable information by reporting any suspicious movement or activities of individuals, groups or persons to the nearest divisional offices within the State.
