NSCDC Vows Dismissal, Prosecution For Gun Running Officers

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has inaugurated a week-long national retreat and symposium for over 150 armourers and arms commanders drawn from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The retreat, themed “Management of Arms and Ammunition,” is aimed at strengthening professionalism, enforcing strict accountability and eliminating operational rivalries within the Corps.

Declaring the event open at the NSCDC National Headquarters, Commandant General Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, warned officers against unprofessional practices in the handling of arms.

“The Corps will deal ruthlessly with any officer involved in illegal dealing in arms and ammunition, such as gun running, arms renting, arms hiring and borrowing,” Prof. Audi said.
“Henceforth, the punishment for involvement in illegal arms activity is outright dismissal and prosecution. Personnel are expected to display the highest levels of discipline and operational integrity.”

He also charged armourers and arms commanders to end inter-departmental friction, noting that seamless collaboration across units is critical to achieving the Corps’ security mandate.

In his remarks, the Commandant of the NSCDC Centre for Civil Defence Studies, Assistant Commandant General Opara Charles Kenechukwu, said weapon stewardship is a sacred trust tied to national security and public confidence.

“Every weapon entrusted to the NSCDC must remain fully accounted for, properly maintained, securely stored, and deployed strictly in accordance with established laws and operational procedures,” he stated.

Goodwill messages were delivered by Deputy Commandants General Dr. Nnamdi Nwinyi, Zakari Ibrahim Ningi, Pedro Awili Ideba, and the Commandant of Armament, Michael Eneghela, PhD.

The event ended with award presentations. Prof. Audi received the Meritorious Award, while DCG Adeyinka Fasiu Ayinla and Acting DCG Lawal Muktar got Excellence Awards. Outstanding Performance Awards were also given to commanders of the CG’s Special Intelligence Squad, VIP Protection Unit, Mining Marshals and the Crack Squad