By Ikemefuna Asika, Awka
The newly deployed Anambra State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Olatunde Maku, has vowed to sanitize the operations of private security companies in the State.
Maku stated this in Awka Sunday following the arrest of seven persons parading themselves as private security guards.
In a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Edwin Okadigbo, the operation was led by Francis Nnadi , Head, Private Guards Company( PGC) Department.
He said the arrest of the seven guards were in two categories; the first category of the arrested guards are those who had obtained PGC licence earlier but failed to renew their license till date.
He gave the names of the companies and their staff as ; Abubakar Michael ‘m’ aged 35 and Uchenna Peter Ngwu ‘m’ aged 39 both staff of Model Security Agency, and Frank Edward Ushahember ‘m’ aged 30 of Philip Smith Security Service.
Nnadi said the other category of four persons arrested are unregistered and unlicensed to operate as private guard companies .
The arrested guards are; Final Mark Nanmal ‘ m’ aged 32 of Globe All Security Network , Aleke Daniel Okwuchukwu ‘ m’ aged 22 of RSS Security, Okoye Felix Emeka ‘m’ aged 40 of Community Based Vigilante Group, and Chima Kelvin Azubuike ‘ m’ aged 24 , working for Feda Security.
Intelligence also revealed impersonators of Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG) posing as Private Guards are on the increase in the state.
However, the Command has put perpetrators of these nefarious acts on the trail with a view to apprehending them.
Meanwhile, the state Commandant, has cautioned companies and individuals in the State to desist from establishing private guard company without following due process. He empathetically stated that the registration, licensing and training of Private Guard Companies fall under the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Act No. 2 of 2003 and as amended by Act 6 of 2007
“Members of the public should know that unrenewed license and unregistered Private Guard Companies are restricted from carrying out operations because it is unlawful , illegal and an economy sabotage.
” Private Guard Companies form a tier of the security architecture of the nation , more so, considering the security situation of the country at the moment, we cannot afford to allow those who are not known to us to continue with their illicit business” he said.
Maku reiterated that the command would continue to swoop on those who are operating private security company without registering with the Corps, describing it as a risk to national security.
All the arrested guards are currently assisting the command in investigation after which they would be arraigned in court for prosecution.
