The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has advised the public to be wary of any of its offcials carrying arms in the name of the Corps.?
NSCDC's Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Emmanuel Okeh, gave the advice? in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.?
“The attention of the Corps has been drawn to reports that there are some people displaying arms and parading themselves as officers of the Civil Defence.?
“Let me state here that the Corps has not yet officially issued? arms to any of its personnel. If anyone? is carrying? an arm and claiming to be an officer of Civil Defence that person? is a fraud.”
He reiterated the NSCDC's commitment to having a trained squad that would be allowed to carry arms, stressing that not every personnel of the NSCDC would be allowed to bear arms.?
He said that the squad was currently undergoing a one month intensive training on arms handling in Kaduna State.?
Okeh recalled that Dr Ade Abolurin, the Commandant-General, had said that staff of the Corps would be allowed to carry arms only after receiving training in arms handling.
Abolurin had told NAN that the training was aimed at avoiding the misuse of arms.?
He explained that the mental state of the officers would also be evaluated before being allowed to handle arms.
“You must prove that you are responsible, mentally stable and well trained officer before being allowed to handle arms.''
He said that the training would help guard against extra-judicial killings and unnecessary use of force by officers. (NAN)