The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has admitted that two of its personnel were involved in the evacuation of the missing radio tower belonging to Media Trust Group and vowed to fish out the culprits.
The Niger State Command Public Relations Officer of the Corps, Nasir D. Abdullahi, said in a statement on Wednesday that two officers, one serving with the Niger State Command and the other with Kaduna State Command were approached by a scrap metal dealer to provide him security cover to transport the items from Maikujeri Rafi LGA of Niger State to Lagos.
He, however, denied that the tower was confiscated by the Niger State Command.
He said: “The NSCDC as a responsible organisation established by an act saddled with the responsibility of protecting critical national assets and infrastructure will not under any reason engage in such scandalous affairs whatever reasons.
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“For the record, the tower in question was at a particular location in Maikujeri in Rafi Local Government when a scavenger by the name of Bello Mustapha approached two of our personnel, one attached to Niger State Command and the other serving with Kaduna State with forged documents to give him cover to evacuate the items.
“The command is currently on top of the unfortunate and painful issue and is presently on the trail of the culprits and the officers involved with the aim of bringing them to face the long arm of justice.
“Already, a total manhunt has been launched by the command on the fleeing culprits and the said Bello Mustapha to bring them for thorough investigation to know the involvement of the men of the command.
“It is also important to note that the national headquarters of the corps under the dynamic leadership of the Commandant General of NSDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi is on top of the matter and has directed for discrete investigation to bring those involved to book.
“The Niger State Command of the Corps wishes to appeal to members of the public and the media to continue to keep their faith and hope on the command under the leadership of the state Commandant, Commandant Elijah Etim Willie as he will not for any reason allow the matter to be swept under the carpet.
“The command is doing everything within the ambit of the act establishing the NSCDC in making sure that the law will take its full course on the matter,” part of the statement read.
A reliable source at the Corps headquarters in Abuja said there have been a series of meetings at the top levels to unravel the mystery around the disappearance of the radio tower.
The source assured that the Corps would get to the bottom of the issue before the 30th of November, 2023.
“The CG has taken interest in the issue and I can assure you that the tower will be found while anyone who had anything to do with its disappearance will be sanctioned,” the source said.
