On Monday the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has dismissed a viral video purporting that a member of the corps confessed to being a bandit.
The suspected bandit, Mr Abdullah Saidu, called himself personnel of the corps in the viral video.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Olusola Odumosu, the NSCDC spokesperson in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Saidu was arrested in connection to a group of armed bandits terrorising some parts of Koton Karfe Local Government Area of Kogi.
The spokesperson said that the NSCDC has set up a team to investigate the available records to confirm the authenticity of Saidu’s claims that he was the corps personnel.
“The general public shall be adequately briefed on subsequent findings.
“Based on the aforementioned, the purported video where the alleged suspect openly confessed to the crime did not in any way give credence to or affirm his membership to the Corps.
“Experience has shown that criminals are fond of impersonating security operatives in order to divert attention, subvert investigation or get away with the crime,” he said.
Odumosu further noted that the NSCDC was saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and property amongst others.
“The Corps will not in any way condone any saboteur of national security or sponsorship of criminals,” he said.
He reiterated the Corps’ zeal to discharge its statutory mandates without compromise but with humility and integrity.
He said the NSCDC will continue to synergise with sister agencies to combat crimes in the country.
