The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has decried the proliferation of unregistered and unlicensed Private Guard Companies (PGCs) in Imo State.
The NSCDC commandant in the state, Matthew Ovye, stated this at a stakeholders’ meeting of the command and PGCs in Owerri.
Ovye who condemned the operations of unregistered PGCs noted that criminal elements. We are taking advantage of their proliferation to commit crimes while disguising as PGCs and deceiving unsuspecting members of the public.
He called on the leadership of the PGCs to report any persons found wanting to the NSCDC for appropriate action.
He described PGCs as “building blocks” for security considering their closeness to the grassroots and urged them to constantly provide security reports to the NSCDC, their regulatory body.
He said that the meeting was aimed at fostering synergy between the NSCDC and PGCs by availing the latter of directly interacting with officers and men of the command.
He thanked the corps’ Commandant-General, Abubakar Audi, for putting up reforms to address challenges facing PGCs in Nigeria and urged people of Imo State to keep faith with the leadership of the NSCDC.
“As the regulatory body of the PGCs, the NSCDC remains committed to due process, especially in the light of present security challenges and we assure Imo people that with this collaborative approach, we will effectively nip insecurity in the bud.
“To this end, PGCs must be fully registered for government to be sure of who they really are and what activities they carry out, in view of current security challenges,” he said.
They encouraged those interested in patronising the activities of PGCs to come through the NSCDC so as to play safe and not fall into the hands of deceitful individuals.
Chairman, Imo State chapter of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria, Nicholas Nkemgaeme, of Snipers Eyes Security, called for the training and streamlining of the activities of PGCs for uniformity of their activities across the country.
