Considering the security situation in the country, especially on the issue of kidnapping and bombing, which has led to insecurity in some parts of the country in recent times, questions have been raised by social critics on whether to allow the officials of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to carry arms or not.This is because, as far as the issue of security is concerned, it has become a joint task, particularly among the Nigerian security and para-military organisations including the NSCDC, which must be done to make Nigeria more attractive to both Nigerians and foreigners alike, particularly for those wishing to come and invest in the country.Civil defence organisations worldwide are raised to, among other things, protect the civilian population against the dangers presented by war and other disasters and to help it recover from their immediate effects, as well as to ensure that the conditions necessary for its survival (warning, evacuation, shelter, rescue, medical services, fire-fighting, public services, etc.) are provided.The essence of the organisation in Nigeria is not an exception, as the purpose of the civil defence agencies is clearly state thus: 'to mitigate the losses, damage and sufferings inflicted on the civilian population by the dramatic developments of the means and methods of warfare."But while the primary purpose of the civil defence rules may be formulated quite simply, the means of achieving it are naturally far more complex, indeed increasingly so, given the effects of the ever more destructive methods of warfare, as well as the changing nature of conflicts, which is resulting in a larger proportion of civilians being killed.There is no doubt that Nigeria's internal security is being threatened by organised criminals who have devised modern techniques of carrying out their nefarious acts. Thus, many individuals suggest that the task of securing the nation cannot be left to only one agency.They proffer that it would require the collaborative efforts of all agencies saddled and empowered by the constitution to ensure that Nigerians do not only think but feel secured adding that this is why the establishment of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, through the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps Act 2003 should be commended.According to many, the fears being expressed in certain quarters of the society, that carrying arms by officers of the NSCDC might compound the problems of accidental discharge is well thought out, owing to years of such experience. However, the Act empowering them (NSCDC) clearly states that an 'armed squad' will carry arms and not all of them. This means that only those in highly dangerous security duties as dictated by the law will utilise such arms to check aggression. They are not to be seen like those of police on main roads.The Act empowering the NSCDC officers to assist in the maintenance of peace and order and the rescuing of the civil populace during the emergency period clearly stipulates a 24-hour surveillance on infrastructure, sites and projects for the federal state and local governments; the power to arrest, investigate and handover to the Nigeria Police for further investigation and prosecution of any person who is involved in any criminal activity; chemical poisoning and oil spillage, industrial espionage or fraud; riot, civil disorder, revolt, strike or religious unrest; power transmission lines and oil pipeline vandalisation.The questions therefore are; Can all these constitutional duties be performed in modern day Nigeria without the necessary tools' Can officers of the NSCDC confront pipeline vandals, who go for operation with lethal weapons with bare hands' Or should they face the surging criminal acts in Nigeria without being equipped' The question posed by critics is, "how can a person perform 24-hour surveillance over infrastructure without being strengthened with weapons to ward off insurgency'The National Assembly, in the 2007 Amendment Act of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, approved the agency to carry light weapons to carry out its duties. Paragraph three of the amended Act, 2007 states that for the ' purposes of efficiently carrying out the functions set out in section 3, the corps shall maintain an 'armed squad' which shall be entitled to bear fire arms and deployed by the office of the Commandant General'.Going by the Act, it is glaring that it also tasks the agency to fight acts of terrorism such as the Boko Haram, especially when the sect had shown that they employ more sophisticated ways of carrying out their acts. The act of terrorism also includes cult and ethnic militia activities. It encompasses criminal activities aimed at depriving citizens of their properties and lives. It is on record that officers of the NSCDC were shot dead by the Boko Haram sect in Maiduguri.The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp, Dr Ade Abolurin, realising the daunting tasks of securing modern day Nigeria, recently emphasised that the turn of events in the country currently made it expedient because 'the civil defence has been transformed worldwide, saying, ''we don't want to sit on the fence, more so, now that there are mounting security issues at stake. The circumstances now are abnormal and so every agency should be proactive, because extra work is needed to ensure the safety of lives and properties of every Nigerian. The establishment of arms squad in the agency will enhance our operations'If the personnel of both civil defence and humanitarian organisations are to perform the duties expected of them, then the issue of their safety needs to be considered particularly when they are involved in a dangerous assignment knowing full well that each and every present-day conflict has its specific nature and must be considered separately in an attempt to find a solution", he stressed, thereby emphasising the need for those to be involved in such a risk and dangerous assignment to be given the opportunity of protecting themselves against possible danger that might come in form of attack by gunmen and other forms of attack .Apparently sensing the possible controversy on whether to deeply involved the civic defence corps in finding the much needed solution to the security challenges facing the country, the Minister of the Interior, Abba Moro, advocated a collaboration between NSCDC and other security agencies saying that, ''no security agency is an island to itself. There is therefore the need to collaborate effectively with other law enforcement agency to ensure a see-able future when Nigerians can be assured of adequate security.There is no doubt that the officials of the civil defence corp in Nigeria have performed creditably well within the limits of the available resources since its establishment. especially the gallant performance during the April this year general elections among others ,no wonder that the Commandant General of the Nigeria Civil Defence Corp, Dr Ade Abolunri while reviewing activities of the agency said over 523 vandals have been arrested between January and August, this year (2011) and that the agency convicted 117 with cases on 152 pending in different courts of law.Emphasising that the NSCDC, ''is equipping itself to face the challenges of ensuring internal security of Nigeria with the procurement of two speed boats to patrol difficult terrain, especially in riverine areas, Dr Abolurin hinted that, over 1,000 members of the corp are undergoing training on the handling of light arms at the Prisons Staff College and Training School, Kaduna. He added that, ''it is gladdening to know that the first first batch of the trainees have graduated. This move will no doubt ensure the efficiency of the organisation.''He noted that the first batch of 500 personnel of the corps who would form the nucleus of the civil defense armed squad are presently undergoing three month intensive training on arms and weapons at the Prisons Armed Squad College,Owerri, saying that additional 200 senior officers and 400 junior officers which include drivers and orderlies have commenced light training in Prisons Staff College and Training School, Kaduna .'To ensure that the internal security is sustained, there must be high level of intelligence networking among the military and paramilitary agencies rather than who bears arms or who should not.Many security watchers have maintained that the NSCDC must also shun the urge to engage in order agencies in supremacy battle. Instead, the agency should intensify the ongoing synergy and collaborative engagement with the state security service, police, prison service and others toward ensuring security of lives and properties. With the increasing level of kidnapping, sectarian violence and terrorist attacks, having a special squad in the civil defense corps delightful but cautions must not be thrown into the wind.According to the Minister of Interior, who announced the approval of President Jonathan, Abba Patrick Moro, 'Mr president has responded to the yearnings of Nigerians in the face of sectarian violence and terrorists attacks aimed at innocent citizens. You have thus far confronted this challenge with bare hands but your job is becoming increasingly dangerous. And so he has approved that civil defense should bear arms. Don't look at yourselves as competing with other agencies; you have your role to play and so other agencies. But all effort should be geared toward the security of the country,' he cautioned.They must however, ensure that they combine the professionalism of a security outfit with the civil ethos of profound respect for the right of citizens. Civil defense, no doubt need an armed squad to fight acts of terrorism (Boko haram), vandalism, and other henious crime which now confronts the nation.
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