The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has revealed the presence of ‘a dangerous group’ in Nigeria causing mayhem.
Audi made the revelation Wednesday at the NSCDC headquarters in Abuja, during the opening ceremony of the last Commandant General conference for the year 2022 with zonal commanders and state commandants of the Corps.
The NSCDC boss said the group was identified through an intelligence report at the disposal of the Corps.
“There is a dangerous group in town. The members dress in security informs and they have started unleashing mayhem on the citizens.
“So, we have to buckle up and fish these people out,” Audi said, calling on the top officers to live up to the expectations of the government by doing their job well.
The CG, while noting that the nation will be heading into the general election in a few weeks, said the Conference will devise a strategy to end the destruction of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s facilities.
He charged the zonal commanders and state commandants to work with sister agencies in ensuring the protection of government properties and public infrastructures in their respective states.
“We are going to hold commandants accountable if there is any attack on any INEC facility in their states,” Audi said.
He urged the participants to concentrate more on intelligence gathering, stressing that preventing a crime is cheaper than curing it.
The NSCDC boss also tasked the zonal commanders to coordinate their states effectively, adding that he would be expecting a minute-by-minute report on the situation in the states under their command.
He also charged them to organise workshops to enlighten the personnel under their command on the need to observe the electoral laws, especially as enshrined in the new electoral act.
Speaking on the activities of the Corp in the outgoing year, Audi said NSCDC is a component part of the security arrangement involving Joint Task Forces created to fight the upsurge of insecurity occasioned by activities of terrorists, insurgents, armed bandits, kidnappers, ethnic militias, ethno-religious crisis etc. in the country.
“Year 2022 has been very challenging when taking against the backdrop of the activities of bandits, kidnappers, terrorists, insurgents, farmers/herders clashes, armed communal conflict among others. However, despite the glaring and damning challenge, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has continued to make its mark in the discharge of its core mandate among other national operational assignments.
“The persistent attacks on INEC facilities nationwide is of great concern to the Corps. This spate of attacks on INEC facilities which is believed to have been masterminded by some disgruntled elements to frustrate successful conduct of the election have led to both material and human losses and must be effectively checkmated and addressed to ensure a successful and hitch free 2023 elections.
“The Corps will continue to effectively synergize with the Police and other Sister Agencies and Stakeholders to safeguard INEC facilities nationwide. The Corps has upscaled its intelligence gathering mechanism and has equally deployed personnel and equipment as a proactive measure towards addressing this menace.
“The Corps has already began strategizing towards ensuring effective and adequate security to guarantee, a free, fair, credible and transparent 2023 general elections.
“The Corps has made safety and security of electoral officers and election materials, candidates, party agents, observers, electorates, the media and transporters a top priority taking against the backdrop of the prevailing security situation in the Country.”
