Akwa Ibom State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Pedro Awil Ideba, speaks with Special Correspondent, EMMA AYUNGBE, on activities of his men and why Boko Haram insurgency is yet to be contained by the government.
NSCDC operations in Akwa Ibom
We are making great impact. With the additional powers to prosecute offenders by an Act of Parliament in 2003 and its subsequent amendment in 2007, we have made serious efforts in tracking down pipeline vandals and oil thieves. Guarding against adulteration of petroleum products and the protection of critical sectors in the country are our major tasks. We have made a lot of arrests in Akwa Ibom State. In fact, we have arrested over 200 persons for various offences.
The high courts in Uyo have so far convicted 15 persons, while others are awaiting trial for various offences. As for others, as you know, the judicial system in this country is very slow; hence the dispensation of justice takes some time.
Major feats by NSCDC
There is so much to show. I will challenge any person, including the law enforcement agencies, to visit our exhibit location at Itam and inspect all the arrests and impoundments we have made so far. You will see the tankers, drums of petroleum products confiscated from culprits.
We have cars, motorcycles and electric equipment as well. All these were got from oil thieves and adulterators of petroleum products.
The impounded vehicles are now federal government’s property. Most of the criminals, when intercepted, abandon their trucks or vehicles. By that, they have indirectly forfeited their property to the federal government.
Agenda at sensitisation
We are not only interested in bringing criminals to book; we also sensitise the public on the dangers of embarking on criminal missions.
We warn the public against committing crimes that will endanger their lives, as they will spend their precious time in jail because of criminal practices. Our men keep 24-hour surveillance on government’s critical infrastructure to ensure that they are adequately protected, whether they are federal, state or local government property.
Efforts at marine policing
The nation has the Navy and Marine Police who protect the waterways. Civil Defence only plays a complementary role. Most of the time when we have need to fight crime on our waterways, we seek the assistance of gunboats from the Navy or the Marine Police. We don’t have gunboats. Criminality is more sophisticated on the high sea than on the land.
NSCDC operatives properly trained to handle firearms
Yes, my men have undergone several training programmes from the police, prisons and immigration colleges on handling of sophisticated firearms. We have the weapon in various types and grades. If you are not trained, the law cannot allow you to even bear a pistol not to talk of handling sophisticated assault rifles. We are adequately trained. I have gone on security training to England, Israel and many African countries. Thanks to the Commandant-General of the Corps who is ever-ready to train our men to perform creditably.
Protecting individual property
Every criminal is our target, even in schools. We go to schools that are regarded as examination ‘special centres’. You are aware that some students, these days, don’t read and don’t rely on their intellectual abilities; hence they seek special examination centres to manufacture result. We not only arrest students who patronise such examination centres and are caught in the act; we also arrest the proprietors of such schools.
Challenges before the Command
Accommodation and logistics are the major challenges of this Command. Our office is not conducive for a serious security organisation. We are sandwiched between a university community and private business centres. That is not good enough for an organisation that is running after criminals. How do you work well? We handle security equipment and ammunitions. We are appealing to the state government to relocate us to a more befitting accommodation, so that we will be further strengthened to work for the state.
The other problem is logistics. We work 24 hours without operational vehicles. We cannot easily police the entire state and rout the criminals. We need communication gadgets and vehicles to go round.
Way out of Boko Haram menace
Terrorism is a global problem, with operatives bearing different names, but the same operational mode. To tackle it, integrity and sincerity must come to play. When there is sincere synergy among the security agencies, the problem of Boko Haram will be settled. They (Boko Haram) are human beings; they are not spirits. Most people know where they gather and plan. They are relations to some persons in this country. They have brothers and sisters; they live among us.
When you look back and see the level of destruction of lives and property, you should be bold enough to say enough is enough. We should be sincere and stop these negative tendencies.
We should ensure that people have one voice and come out in one accord and say this killing and kidnapping must stop. The issue of Boko Haram is borne out of selfishness. We are not sincere. Nobody is telling the government the truth.
The terrorists’ mode of operations is known. They buy their equipment and ammunitions from the markets. They pass through our highways where some security agents see them and accord them right of passage. They don’t fly on the air; they move like every other person.
The bombs they tie on their waists are got from among the people. We should be more vigilant. They don’t use any spiritual (diabolic) powers. After all, most of them still die from gunshots. Once the security agents are sincere and willing to give the government sincere information about the group, their end will be near.
Choice of NSCDC job
Will you do a job you don’t have love for? I am well read. If I didn’t have love for the job, there were other options; but I joined because I had interest in protecting the critical infrastructure and curbing corruption in the society. I love to be a civil defender without compulsion. Don’t forget that NSCDC was formerly a voluntary organisation. If I didn’t love the job, I would not have joined as a volunteer.
When I was not paid, I was doing the job free for the federal government. That I did the job then means that I have passion for it. I love the job, hence I am developing professionally to this level of a commandant.
