The Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi, has charged private security operators in the county to protect critical infrastructure across the country in the course of their duties.
Audi made this known at the launch of a new private security outfit, Al-Ansar Security Services, yesterday, in Maiduguri, Borno state. In a communiqué, he expressed the agency’s determination to encourage and support efficiency, probity and accountability in the private security sector to rid it of quacks and boost the fight against insecurity.
He stated: “In line with the Corps’ mandate to monitor, regulate and license the private guard companies, the private security industry players must carry out their operations in conformity with laid down rules to bring sanity to the industry and eliminate activities of quacks.
“This is necessary owing to the prevailing security situation in the country, especially in the North East, and the private security industry has a significant role to play in assisting security agencies in their collective effort towards addressing insecurity, which has led to loss of life and property with many more displaced from their homes,” he said.
Calling on the new company to look beyond the business aspect by channelling its energy towards improving internal security by gathering and sharing timely and credible intelligence, he expressed hope that due diligence would be followed in the process of recruiting guards for the company.
“Let me advise the company’s management to exercise caution in its recruitment drive, so as not to recruit criminally-minded individuals. NSCDC must be carried along in the recruitment process and training of guards to ensure that due diligence is followed,” he added.
