Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Anambra State have arrested eight illegal private guards in a recent crackdown on unlicensed private security guards in Awka, the state capital.
State Commandant, Maku Olatunde who disclosed this to newsmen, said four pump action guns with 16 live cartridges were recovered from the suspects.
Parading the suspects at the Command Headquarters on Friday, Maku said they were apprehended following a raid on Thursday by NSCDC operatives in Awka.
He noted that NSCDC, as the regulatory body of the Private Security Guards, remained committed to checkmating their activities especially in the light of the current security challenges.
According to him: “We are here in continuation of the execution of the NSCDC mandate, and we have not left any stone unturned in discharging our responsibilities.
“The charge given to me by Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps is to go and deliver on the core mandate of Corps in Anambra State.
“The arrests were made in response to intelligence reports and the need to sanitize the security industry allowing only licensed and reputable private security companies to operate in the state,” he said.
Maku named the first three suspects, staff of RSS, arrested at Kwata Junction Awka, while a member of G7 AVG security outfit was arrested at G7 plaza St Joseph Road Awka.
He said the other four suspects, were arrested providing security services to hotels.
“Meanwhile, four (4) pump action guns with 16 live cartridges were also recovered from them .
“Preliminary investigation revealed that some of the arrested suspects were impersonating the Anambra Vigilante Group ( AVG) while others were hired by hotels to provide security services, despite knowing that the outfits were not licensed or registered.
“Consequently, all the suspects are currently undergoing investigation, after which they would be charged to the competent court of jurisdiction for prosecution,” he added.
Expressing optimism that the ongoing raid would assist to prevent the proliferation of illegal security outfits and reduce the risk of security breaches and criminal activities, NSCDC vowed to clamp down on any illegal outfit, arrest and prosecute their operators and recover illegal weapons in their possession.
“With this tough stance, the command aims to restore sanity in the operations of the private security sector and ensure the safety and security of all Anambra residents.This arrest and recovery of weapons is a significant achievement in the effort to reduce crime in the state
“With NSCDC in place, the only agency charged with the responsibility of licensing, monitoring and the supervision of private securities companies in Nigeria, no one will operate illegally as a private guard company again in Anambra State.
“We are going to flush them out, and every of their activities is forbidden in the state. I want to put all illegal security outfits on notice to dismantle their operations or face the consequences” he added. (Nation)