Four in NSCDC net for allegedly stealing NCC’s airconditioners
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abia Command, has arrested for persons for allegedly stealing seven airconditioner units in Umuahia.
The State Commandant, Mr Ayinla Olowo, disclosed this on Wednesday, when he paraded the suspects before journalists at the command’s headquarters in Umuahia.
Olowo said the airconditioners were property of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
He said the items were stolen from the NCC’s dumpsites situated at Afara Umuahia and Olokoro, both in Umuahia North and Umuahia South Local Government Areas, respectively.
He said the suspects allegedly committed the crime on Oct. 24 and were arrested on Nov. 22, following intelligence report.
Olowo lauded the efforts of his operatives for swinging into action immediately they received the report, leading to the arrest of the suspects.
He thanked the Commandant-General of the Corps, Ahmed Audi, for providing the command with the needed and timely logistics support that facilitated the arrest.
He said, “The staff-friendly policies of the current leadership of the corps serve as a great motivation to the personnel in the discharge of their duties.”
The state NSCDC boss further thanked members of the public “for providing the useful information that enabled the successful arrest.”
He urged them not to rest on their oars but “continue to partner with security agencies in the state to serve them better.”
He said the suspects would be arraigned as soon as investigations were concluded.
The suspects included Innocent Chimezie, 20, and Uchenna Ejinkoye, 33, who allegedly stole the items, while Amechi Amadi, 21, and Amadi Maduka, 30, allegedly purchased them.
In an interview, they admitted commiting the crime.
In another development, the Command has begun the two-day programme of forensic psychological and behavioural assessment and evaluation of its personnel.
Olowo said the test, which he formally declared open on Wednesday, was in line with the nationwide test initiated by the corps commandant-general.
He said the essence of the test was to enable the corps to ascertain the behavioural and psychological status of the corps personnel, especially the arms bearers.
He said the overall objective was to ensure that only qualified operatives were allowed to bear arms to avert the ugly incidents of accidental discharge, leading to deaths of innocent persons.
“The commandant-general has been doing a lot to take the corps to higher height and ensure that we operate in accordance with the global best practices,” he said.
The NSCDC Chief admonished the operatives to provide honest answers to the questionnaires, saying that their responses would be treated confidentially and not affect their service.
“You have nothing to fear. Nobody will be punished and the information you provide will not affect your being in service, so feel free to give honest information about yourself.
“There is no correct or wrong answers and depending on your pschological status, you might be invited for counselling to help you discharge your job professionally,” Olowo said.
He gave the historical background of the Corps and recalled that at inception in 2004, the organisation was not allowed by the enabling Act to carry arms.
“We were not permitted to bear arms but expected to go after vandals, who are brutal, and over time, our people became an endangered specie.
“But three years after, the government of the day decided to amend the Act to enable us to begin to bear arms like other security agencies,” Olowo said.
