Insecurity: NSCDC CG charges officers on intelligence gathering

Audi gave this charge while speaking at the opening ceremony of the first Commandant General’s Conference of the year 2023 at the NSCDC headquarters on Thursday.

“For the Corps to effectively address the menace of insecurity, I want to emphasize the need for us to focus more attention on intelligence gathering as a proactive measure.

“Let me use this medium to charge you to upscale your intelligence-gathering mechanism which is the most important and vital ingredient to effectively address the prevailing security situation in the Country.

“You are expected to intensify covert/overt operations across all state formations to gather actionable intelligence to address the spate of insecurity and should not hesitate to promptly share same with relevant sister agencies/critical stakeholders for appropriate joint action to curb/checkmate the growing spate of insecurity.

“To this end, the Management is perfecting arrangements to introduce a series of training and capacity-building programmes on surveillance and intelligence gathering for the Corps personnel to sharpen their skills and competencies to further add bite to their operational capabilities,” the NSCDC CG said.

While noting that the challenges of emerging security threats occasioned by the criminal activities of bandits, terrorists, kidnappers, and farmers/herders clashes among others were quite enormous, he said there was a need to add bite to the Corps’ operations to effectively tackle the new dimension of organised crimes for a safe and secure Nigeria.

He also charged them to collaborate effectively and maintain cordiality with relevant stakeholders while performing their functions.

“You are therefore expected not only to sustain but improve on existing robust relationships and synergy with the Military, Police and other law enforcement agencies to effectively tackle the emerging security threat staring us in the face,” Audi said.

While stating that the Corps had intensified patrol, monitoring and surveillance of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI) in all its formations across the country to guard against violent attacks, vandalism, oil theft and sabotage, he expressed dismay that some States Commandants were not measuring up to expectation.

“I, therefore, want to sound a note of warning to all Commandants presently in command positions to either sit up or be shown the red flag. The management will not hesitate to deal appropriately with anyone in command position, found wanting in the discharge of his duties,” he said.

Earlier, the NSCDC CG presented a certificate of operation to 44 Private Guard Companies (PGC), charging them to join the Corps in the fight against insecurity.

“You are expected, as a matter of compulsion, to turn in intelligence reports on a monthly basis and any one 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,” he said.