Seven Private Security Guards Arrested In Anambra For Operating Illegally

Seven persons have been arrested for allegedly rendering illegal security services in Anambra State, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Anambra State, said Tuesday.

Deputy Commandant Francis Nnadi, Head, Private Guards Company (PGC) Department of the corps, who led the operations, said the suspects comprised those whose operating licences were not renewed.

Nnadi named those under this category as Abubakar Michael, 35, and Uchenna Peter Ngwu, 39, both staffers of Model Security Agency, and Frank Edward Ushahember, 30, of Philip Smith Security Service.

The other category of four persons arrested are unregistered and unlicensed to operate as private guard companies. He gave their names as Final Mark Nanmal, 32, of Globe All Security Network; Aleke Daniel Okwuchukwu, 22, of RSS Security; Okoye Felix Emeka, 40, of Community Based Vigilante Group, and Chima Kelvin Azubuike, 24, working for Feda Security.

Nnadi said, “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 of the corps, Mr Olatunde Maku, cautioned companies and individuals in the state to desist from establishing private guard companies without following the due process.

He said registration, licensing and training of private guard companies fall under the purview of the NSCDC, adding that ‘members of the public should know that unrenewed licences and unregistered private guard companies are restricted from carrying out operations because it is unlawful, illegal and an economy sabotage’.

Quoting him, “Private guard companies form a tier of the security architecture of the nation. 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.”
Maku said the command would continue to ‘swoop up on those who are operating private security company without registering with the corps, describing it as a ‘risk to national security’.

The Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Command of NSCDC, Edwin Okadigbo, said the suspects are currently assisting the command in investigations after which they would be arraigned in court for prosecution.