Contrary to the statutory provisions establishing the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as Amended by the NSCDC Act of 2007 authorising? the corps to bear fire arms, the? NSCDC is yet to get the nod to bear arms.
The National Assembly had in 2007 passed a bill authorising the NSCDC to bear fire arms to enable it effectively carry out its statutory security functions, especially with regards to containing illegal bunkering and oil pipes vandalism in the country as reflected in section 3 (1) of the Amended NSCDC Act of 2007.
Only recently, the? media was agog with reports that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) are now armed, but? LEDERSHIP SUNDAY independent investigations in some of the operational bases of the NSCDC across the country and in its corporate headquarters in Abuja, discovered that none of the operatives carry arms.
The Commandant General of the Corps, Dr. Ade Abolurin when approached on the matter declined? comment.
However, the Public Relations Officer of the Corps, Okey Emmanuel, confided in LEADERSHIP SUNDAY that the story as canvassed in the media about the corps being armed did not originate from NSCDC and described it as false, stressing that the corps is not yet armed.?
“Those behind the story certainly have fraudulent agenda, we don’t know why the executives have refused implementing the carrying of fire arms since 2007, We don’t know anything about the story.
“However we are? carrying out our? responsibilities effectively even with bare hands but we could have been more effective with arms”, Emmanuel? stressed.