The Nigerian Civil Defense Corps was founded in 1967 as a voluntary corps providing complimentary service to the Nigerian citizens and was inaugurated in 2003 as paramilitary yet with no arms, right to arrest or conduct house search.
Speaking during the handing over ceremony at the I Division HQ of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna,the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, said “I want to use this medium to let conflicts perpetrators, especially the Sect known as Boko Haram to know that if they think that killing innocent people is the only way to make a statement and press their demands, well I am happy to inform them that no amount of war, bomb blast, suicide bombing would solve the problem as the Federal Government would continue to do all it can to enhance security.”
The Nigerian Army offered to train the Nigerian Civil Defense Corps staff to enable them meet up with the challenges of terrorism as some of its personnel are retired military or police officers.
The Minister of Interior further dismissed the claim of Boko Haram that the Federal Government was insincere and could not be trusted. “Time has changed and things have changed with time. The Federal Government has always opened the door for dialogue with Boko Haram, yet we hear of reports stating that the government is insincere, whereas Boko Haram never spoke with the Federal Government. But if they choose to press their demands with violence, then, the government would do everything to improve security and bring an end to terrorism.”
Moro stated that the Nigerian Air Force and Navy would soon be armed to enable them meet up with the challenges of terrorism.
The General Officer Commanding 1 Division Army, who represented the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Garba Wahab, said that the exercise of arming the Civil Defense was in line with the directives of the Federal Government in order to enhance security and fight “Modern Terrorism”.
The General Officer Commanding 1 Division Army, who represented the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Garba Wahab, said that the exercise of arming the Civil Defense was in line with the directives of the Federal Government in order to enhance security and fight “Modern Terrorism”.
“We are going to share intelligence with the Civil Defense Corps and we all know that terrorism is on the increase in Nigeria and the military and police alone cannot handle the situation, that is why we have decided to bring in the civil defense.No excuses would be accepted for the misuse of weapons as we have reports of that, disciplinary action would be taken on such ground,” he said.
In his remarks,the Commandant General of Civil Defence Corps, Dr Olu Aboderin assured that the arms handed over to them would be used according to international and local laws.
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