Date: 2012-04-09

Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in Kwara State, Al-Hassan Akor, said the Federal Government has approved the use of arms for men and officers of the corps to complement other security agencies in order to curb the rising cases of crimes across the country.

Towards this end, he said about 50-man anti-vandal squad  have already been trained in arms-carrying by the  Prisons, in Ilorin, adding that they will be supplied with the arms and ammunition as soon.

The civil defence boss, however, clarified that being armed does not mean that the corps are allowed to kill, saying that the law guiding their operations did not permit them to kill any suspect but only to maim.

Speaking during a public display of strength at the weekend, the civil defence boss said  members of the anti-vandal squad, made up of uniformed and plain-clothed men, will monitor oil pipelines in collaboration with some licensed private security guards.

Akor, who said arms- training should form part and parcel of the corps, warned his men to be conscious of safety regulations when they start carrying arms, and cautioned that there is no accidental discharge in the dictionary of civil defence.

He reiterated that the corps had the core mandate to protect government's property and physical infrastructure including oil pipelines, PHCN cables, water board pipes, adding that the training exercise was meant to re-awaken his men on their onerous task and responsibility and as well tell public that they are battle-ready to carry out their duty and curb acts of vandalism.

He also said that the anti-vandal squad was ready to combat vandalism in the state considering huge economic loss of the act, warning vandals to look for clean business to do.

The civil defence boss  urged members of the public to volunteer information on any suspicious person to security agencies, promising to protect the identity of such people.

Meanwhile, the civil defence boss said the corps has sealed up six private guards companies in Kwara state for operating without licence.

Akor, who said the corps is a regulatory body for private guards companies, added that private guards personnel are trained by civil defence.

"Apart from anti-vandal squad, civil defence is a regulatory body for private guard companies. They have their people where we don't have our people like hotels, cafe, joints, eateries where people cone to relax and discuss. We liaise with them. They avail us with information when they have information and we act on such information", he said.