‘If they confront you, finish them’ NSCDC Commandant directs officers to gun down criminals

The Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Audi, has told newly-trained personnel of the corps in arms handling, not to hesitate in gunning down criminals if confronted.

He gave the charge while speaking at the Passing Out Parade (POP) of officers and men of the corps for arms training, batch 7 at the Corps’ headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

“Don’t allow yourself to be disarmed,” he added. “As you go out on the field, put all that you have been taught to practice. If they [criminals] confront you, finish them.”

Dr Audi, however, warned the personnel to exhibit the highest level of discipline and dedication to duty, adding that any act of insubordination would not be tolerated.

“Indiscipline, unprofessional conduct, disloyalty to the system, disobedience to constituted authority and insubordination will be ruthlessly dealt with.

“Consequently, you are charged to be at your best all the time as defaulters would be shown the way out.

“Be warned that accidental discharge is an aberration under my watch,” he said.

267 personnel, selected from commands in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, were trained in basic arms handling.

The training exercise, which started on the 6th of July and ended on the 16th of August, 2021, covered medical certification, psychological and forensic evaluation and rigorous drills which climaxed in the shooting range.