The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has commissioned its female squad.
The development is a part of efforts geared towards addressing the present security challenges confronting the nation, especially the rise in cases of kidnappings at schools.
A statement released Friday in Abuja by the Coeps director of public relations, DCC Olusola Odumosu revealed that the squad was commissioned by Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
The statement quoted the minister as commending the leadership of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for taking the lead in establishing a female squad.
Speaking on the significance of women in the fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms on insecurity, Aregbesola said since women account for more than half of the nation’s population, “it is very apt to include them in all aspects of nation building as studies have shown that women are more likely to attract the cooperation, confidence and trust of the citizens than their male counterparts.”
He maintained that the spike in security challenges in the country occasioned by the activities of Boko Haram insurgency, armed banditry, robbery, kidnappings, farmers/herders clashes among others necessitated the clamour for security agencies to redouble their efforts by strategizing to provide a safe and secure environment, where meaningful development can thrive.
Aregbesola assured the leadership of the corps has resolved to continue to enhance the capacity of the NSCDC to effectively deliver on its mandates through adequate funding and provision of modern security equipment.
On his part, the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr Ahmed Audi, said the female squad was a child of necessity, borne out of the need to effectively curtail the recent upsurge of insecurity and to pro-actively engage bandits and kidnappers of school children as directed by the Federal Government on the implementation of the safe school initiative by the Corps.
Audi said the frequency of attacks on schools by bandits who indulge in kidnapping of students for ransom has made it imperative to focus attention on intensifying security within and around vulnerable school’s environments across the country; “This is a proactive step aimed at ensuring safety of school children and restoring the confidence of students, parents, teachers and the host communities” he said.
According to Audi, the corps has concluded a vulnerability survey on all schools in the country to collate data with a view to identifying the gaps in the existing security arrangement for schools in Nigeria and to give the corps needed clues on necessary strategies to adopt in enhancing safety in the Nation’s schools, especially those that are susceptible to attacks.
