The Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi on Thursday threatened to prosecute unlicensed guards and the Private Guards’ Companies (PGCs) they are working for.
The NSCDC CG stated this while handing over licences to 44 PGCs in Abuja.
Audi instructed that all licensed PGCs must operate within the required standard in order to reduce the rising state of insecurity in the country.
He said: “Thereafter, all guards shall be licensed before deployment while unlicensed guards shall be arrested, prosecuted and their companies sanctioned for employment and deployment of unlicensed guards.
“You are, today, receiving your licence towards the end of a regime when we have some disgruntled elements threatening the unity and peace of this nation during handover.
“Your first assignment is to be vigilant during this period, report to the corps any suspicious gathering and most importantly engage a damage control measure before adequate response from government security agencies.
“You are expected, as a matter of compulsion, to turn in an intelligence report on a monthly basis and anyone that is of urgent importance must be turned in immediately as companies shall be held responsible for any breach of security that occurs in their beats”.
Audi, however, expressed optimism that the companies would live up to expectations while stressing that the NSCDC would not spare any company that deviates from the rules.
He said, “We want to believe that you will maintain the qualities that qualify you for this licence, be of high integrity and by extension, good ambassadors of the corps. You would have known, judging by the process, that we do not compromise.
“Therefore, we shall not hesitate to wield the big hammer on any company whose directors deviate from these set standards”.
