The Commandant-General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr Ahmed Audi on Monday read the riot act.to officers and men of the Corps to see to an end of banditry and kidnapping for ransom in the country.
He gave the marching order at the headquarters of the Corps during the passing out parade of Batch 7 of arms training for 267 Officers.
This came as the Corps paraded 100 suspects who were allegedly involved in a syndicate for job racketeering.
The Commandant-General told the officers that they were passing out from eight weeks of intensive and rigorous training at a time when the nation is faced with serious security challenges, urging them to be ready to contribute their quota in the efforts to put an end to banditry and kidnapping for ransom.
He said there was every reason for the corps to justify the investment by the Federal Government in the provision of necessary equipment, training and logistics for the officers and men of NSCDC.
Audi said: “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 said.
He disclosed that the Corps has 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 South-West region of the country “against the enemies who are bent on crippling the economy of the nation by engaging in wanton destruction of lives and Critical National Asset and infrastructure which include crude oil and petroleum facilities”.
Meanwhile, the NSCDC high command has paraded 100 suspects and kingpin, allegedly involved in job racketeering with victims defrauded of hundreds of naira.
Director, Public Relations of NSCDC, Mr Olusola Odumosu, who paraded the suspects said they were intercepted and arrested on their way from Abuja to Kaduna State for the purpose of documentation for fake NSCDC employment.
He said suspects whose age ranges from 25 to 45 years are currently feeding the Corps with information that would enable the Corps trace and track other members of the syndicates, adding that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.
According to him, the suspected mastermind, who was the ring leader, leading the Kaduna trip and the coordinator of the nefarious acts, Mr. Gabriel Kingsley, was also nabbed by the gallant female Squad and brought back from Kaduna to NSCDC National Headquarters for further investigation.
“After they have been 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.
“It was also revealed by some of the suspects during interrogation that some money were paid by the suspects to the coordinator secure to secure the jobs,” he said.
Grabrial Kingsley when interrogated by journalists admitted that he was working for one Mr Buhari who engaged him to convey the suspects to Kaduna for what was not made known to him. He introduced himself as a student of University of Abuja.
He said: “I met him (Buhari) sometimes late January and from then we got talking about job. He asked me to bring the people to Kaduna before we were arrested.”
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents
In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state.
and then