The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has arrested over 60 suspected vandals for their involvement in alleged vandalising of critical government infrastructure.

A statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Chibuzor Mefor, on Friday in Lagos, said the Commandant, Mr Gabriel Abafi, made the disclosure during the review of the Corps’ activities so far since the year.

The statement said its Anti-Vandal Unit arrested the suspected vandals for engaging in the vandalism of petroleum pipelines and installations.

“In spite of the face-off we had at Owutu Isawo area of Ikorodu with suspected pipeline vandals in January where three of NSCDC personnel were abducted by the vandals, the Corps have in collaboration with other security agencies ensured that sanity is restored to the area.

“The vandals are becoming more sophisticated in their mode of operations, but this will not deter the corps from carrying out its statutory functions.

“We have been equipped more by the Federal Government in the area of logistics to ensure 24 hours surveillance on government critical infrastructures,” he said.

On Private Guard Companies (PGC), the statement said the command successfully sealed over 30 operating illegally in the state.

It said the sealing was in line with its mandate to licence and supervise the activities of the private guards companies in Nigeria.

According to Lagos NSCDC, “We have discovered that most of these companies operate without a designated office address.

“Most of them recruit guards and send them straight to their clients without proper training and documentation.

“We have traced some of the companies through their guards that we arrested at various locations in Lagos. For those we cannot trace, we gave disengagement letters to their clients.

“We appeal to those who are interested in the business to obtain their licences from the National Headquarters, Abuja and those whose licences have expired should go for the renewal.”

The statement noted that the Anti-Fraud Unit of the command was currently handling about 20 cases of all manners of fraud ranging from visa scam, land and employment scams.

“One of the cases of visa scam is where one Mrs Ike Kehinde, the suspect allegedly collected the sum of N210,000 from the complainant under false pretences to get a U.S. visa for him to travel.

“The woman in question is still at large and investigation is ongoing to fish her out,” it also stated.

The statement added that so far in the year, the Peace And Conflict Resolution Unit had handled over 13 cases ranging from landlord/tenant conflicts, family disputes, breach of public peace, child abuse.

It has also handled cases of breach of contractual agreements, noting that some had been resolved while the rest were still pending.

On disaster management, the statement said the command’s emergency response team had successfully partnered with other agencies such as NEMA, LASEMA and RRS in managing disaster.

It said such included automobile crashes and fire incidents, citing the February Mile 12 fire incident and collapsed buildings and other manmade or natural disaster within the Lagos metropolis.

“The command has also been making security reports on areas that are prone to either manmade or natural disasters to ensure that adequate steps are taken to forestall any imminent disaster within the state.

“The corps has equally set a response target time of not more than 15 minutes to arrive at any disaster scene, the statement said,” it said.

It also said the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Monitoring Unit was set up to investigate any fraud related matter.

The statement further said: “They are at present handling 10 cases, ranging from obtaining money through false pretences, abducting someone for ransom and land scam.

“Some of these suspects who are involved in one form of crime or the other are currently facing trials in either federal, state or magistrate courts.

“In some of the cases, investigations are still ongoing. We are proud to say that the Nigerian Navy transferred 23 suspected oil vandals to us who are equally standing trials in federal high court.

“The Legal Unit of the command is working hard to ensure that the perpetrators of these crimes are brought to book.”

It assured Lagos State residents that the corps was working assiduously in conjunction with sister agencies toward ensuring that the rate of crime was reduced drastically.

The statement also urged them to be law abiding in going about their day to day activities without fear of molestation and appreciated the way they conducted themselves during the last general elections. (NAN)

•Photo shows NSCDC personnel