Imported User:
The federal government through the Nigeria Army, yesterday handed over a large cache of arms and ammunition containing 5, 000 modern GT Rifles and 25, 000 rounds of ammunition to the newly trained armed squad of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The latest move by the federal government is in furtherance of concerted efforts to curb violence in the nation.
Speaking at the handover ceremony which took place at the premises of the 1 Mechanised Division, Nigerian Army in Kaduna yesterday, Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro who explained that the move, was to enable the corps who have contributed immensely to national security, fight insecurity, pleaded with the Boko Haram Islamist sect to reconsider dialogue, which he maintained, remained the veritable way of solving all disputes.
The minister, who could not hide his joy at the meritorious achievement of the corps, lamented bitterly that the failure by the dreaded Boko Haram Islamist sect to embrace the option of dialogue had led to the incessant killings of innocent and unarmed Nigerians.
Backing the federal government’s resolve to create an armed squad in the NSCDC, the minister said, it became necessary to enable the country move with the trend of constant changes the country had faced in the last two years, saying “since times are changing, it is necessary to move with the trend” just as he described the ceremony as a near completion of the metamorphosis of the corps.
Comrade Moro who posited that no amount of suicide bombings, bomb blasts or killings of innocent Nigerians would address what he termed “the undisclosed grievances of the sect,” called on them to consider the pains and agonies, which their deadly acts had caused the voiceless and the commoner.
“I will re-echo the President’s call and urge them to tow the path of dialogue,” Moro stated.
He warned the corps to guard against extra-judicial killings and accidental discharges adding that the delivery of arms and ammunitions to the corps was not an invitation to rivalry between it and other security agencies, “as the NSCDC plays a complementary role in stemming the tide of violence in the country.”
On his part, the Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr. Ade Abolurin explained that the acquisition of weapons was in consonance with universal practice.
He further listed the acquired weapons to include lethal and non-lethal, explaining that while the armed squad unit was to help in quelling non-civil disturbances, the regional civil defence unit had a duty to quell internal civil conflicts.
