The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) yesterday sealed three unlicensed Private Guard Security (PGC) firms for operating illegally.
The command also arrested staff of the affected security outfits for allegedly parading themselves as private guards for the companies in default.
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The FCT commandant of the NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu, who led his men on the clampdown, explained that the companies were sealed for operating without valid licenses.
Odumosu stressed that all duly registered and licenced companies were profiled, adding that the biometrics of guards of such companies were usually taken , as they cannot afford to risk national security, being conscious of the fact that some outfits act as informants to criminals.
Guards of the affected companies were also arrested for allegedly parading themselves as private guards for companies that were unknown to the Corps in the FCT.
The affected companies are Ochacho Security Limited, Justigo Security Limited and Allied Security Services. They were sealed for non-renewal of licence while Maco Security Services was sealed for not registering with the agency as stipulated by law.
Odumosu said private security outfits form part of the security architecture of the FCT and the nation at large , hence must be properly licenced, monitored and evaluated to ensure that they operated in line with spelt out guideline.
He said, “We are sealing these three private guard companies for threatening internal and national security, failure to renew the licence when due, refusal to be subjected to the licensing authority, and for employing guards without approval as well as their failure to register as recognised PGCs.”
Odumosu warned that all unlicenced, unrenewed, and unregistered PGCs were restricted from carrying out their businesses because it is unlawful, illegal, and a threat to national security. He added that its monitoring and enforcement exercise on PGCs in the FCT would be sustained because sanitising the private guard industry is their mandate.
He said, “It is about internal security. The country is facing many security challenges and that is why the corps must be on its toes. If we compromise internal security, one is indirectly compromising national security.”
According to him, the NSCDC is saddled with the responsibility of supervising and licencing private guard companies in the country and would stop at nothing to sanitise the nation’s security sector, in line with their mandate.
He expressed shock that, in spite of the fact that the corps commandant-general, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, at conferences and meetings held with stakeholders, warned extensively on issues relating to illegal private guard companies and those who have failed to renew their licence, some heartless and selfish individuals still operated unlicenced.