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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as the name implies, is believed to be civilian friendly and more civil in its operations than other security agencies. The para-military outfit as part of its constitutional security duties, participated in containing the subsidy protests. The NSCDC Commandant General, Dr. Ade Abolurin? in this interview with JAMES UWEM? said? the corps is better trained to handle civil protests than other security organisations. Excerpts:

What role did? NSCDC play during the last protests over subsidy removal?
Democracy is characterised? by certain features, one of it is the right and freedom for people to agitate and? demand from government what? they think are their rights. On our part, our cardinal objective is the protection of lives and properties of Nigerians and that of government, which we did to the best of? our ability during the? subsidy protest.

NSCDC worked tirelessly in the most professional manner in each state where the protest was going on from the grassroot level to the urban centers. Though it was tasking, but we did it satisfactorily because it is our cardinal constitutional mandate to do so.

Why was NSCDC not capable of curtailing the protests without synergy from other security agents?
Well, when you have such a precarious and overwhelming situation as the subsidy protest, where unassuming number of people turned out? in the guise of protesters, we definitely? needed some kind of synergy from other security agencies. So NSCDC worked with other security agents during the protest as one body. NSCDC being? more of? a civil organisation, our men are well trained and oriented in the management of civil protests than other security agencies, that was why NSCDC acted in the most civil manner that in the entire country, not an incident of abuse, killing or even wounding of a protester was recorded against the civil defence personal, nobody can say that our people misbehaved in any way. That is largely because of our trainings!.?

But indeed the scenario was overwhelming and the pattern which it happen I would say, was the reason for? the loss of the few lives as we heard because, politicians hijacked? the protest as an opportunity to score cheap political goals. While we discovered some were being fronted by some agents, so what ought to be a peaceful protest turned out to be a violent agitation, making it inevitable for some level of force to be applied since they? started being violent? and? destructive. In some places, buildings were destroyed and? properties looted, so applying little force by security agents might result? in the dead of few.

How best should protest be organised to avoid deaths?
The organiser of protest must be mindful of the caliber of those they use and should advice them not? to be destructive. In advanced countries, when people protest, they adhere strictly to the issues of the advocacy, speaking to the people and telling government what are their? grievances in a very peacefully manner, not?? what happened here where in some instance on their way, houses and vehicles were being destroyed and whoever is their enemy will be attacked, No! we had funny cases like in Niger State where protesters burnt peoples houses and even set fire on INEC office.

All these were uncalled for!? This? means they were obviously? used by politicians and in that manner the security men in INEC’s office will not just wait for them to kill him but in self defence may react .

How are? you contending with the Boko Haram members, if we are to go by president Jonathan’s pronouncement,? in your organisation?
I listened to the president as well. He didn’t? mention NSCDC. In that regard, I am emphatically and truthfully telling you that we don’t have members of? Boko Haram in NSCDC. We are always very thorough during recruitment to be sure? that only those with unquestionable characters? are recruited. More so since then, we? have been conducting proper internal investigations on our men, not a trace of any criminal minded element has been discovered. So? as? far as the? corps? is? concerned, only patriotic Nigerians? are serving in NSCDC, their sense of commitment to service is very high.

Why has Boko Haram dwarfed the intelligence of the Nigerian Security agents???
I think Nigerians also have a big role to play. We are in a community where some people harbour criminals without anybody informing the security agents;? security agents are not magicians, it will be very hard for security agents? to know. So the role of Nigerians? is for? them to keep security agents posted effectively on? suspected persons and incidences? around them. If they don’t, it is? dangerous to them because? the consequences will be on them first. It is? not enough to blame government that people have died in such a place after bomb blast, the question is, did any one inform the security agents? I am appealing to Nigerians to be concerned and be security conscious. However, I am also of the opinion that Nigeria situation is over emphasised. When? you critically analyse Nigeria comparatively with? some countries, one can say that our situation is still better and less of crime and killing than other countries.

Is your organisation experiencing? challenges?
We see these challenges as part of our mandate, it is our job. A lawyer who don’t have cases? to? handle will be jobless! So if we as security agents don’t have work to do, we may become jobless. So in peace and? in time of crises, our job is to provide security to Nigerians, we can’t be over stressed! Though? we may complain of inadequate personals or funds and other things because of the emerging difficulties as the job is becoming increasingly challenging, it has not gotten to a level to say that? we are over stressed, no! not for now. The? USA are being very tough with terrorists. Afghanistan, Iraq? and others that used? to be their operational base are no more conducive and no longer a safe place for them, so since Nigeria appears to be a virgin land in terms of terrorism operations, they are seeing Nigeria as a place to hide. Notwithstanding, we in the security arm of? government are doing our best.

NSCDC was accorded the right? to be armed, why do your personnel taking so long to do so?
It is not every member of? the corps that should be seen carrying arm, the corps has a special unit known as the arm squad within the corps, they have effectively undergone drilling in the use of? arms both in Nigeria and abroad. However, in the next two weeks our men in the arm squad? will be physically seen with arms in places of their primary assignment just as other security agents. However, let me inform you that we have already started? using the armed men in some parts of the north, like in Maiduguri, where there is eminent? need? for the use of? armed personnel.