The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Osun has solicited the support of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) in tackling insecurity in the state.

Akintayo Adaralewa, the NSCDC commandant in Osun, made the appeal when he paid a courtesy visit to Brig.-Gen. Aliyu Abdulkareem, the commander of Engineer Construction Command, Nigerian Army, Ede, and A.O. Bewaji, the comptroller of NIS, Osogbo.

A statement by Kehinde Adeleke, the NSCDC spokesperson in Osogbo, noted that Mr Adaralewa appealed during separate visits to Messrs Adulkareem and Bewaji on Friday.

Mr Adaralewa commended the Nigerian Army for the existing cordial working relationship between the NSCDC and the army in the area.

He said the corps had benefited from military training at various times, adding that the NSCDC was a proud product of the military.

“We solicit for more training and re-training of our personnel to enhance optimal operational performance in the discharge of our duties to the nation,” Mr Adaralewa appealed.

The NSCDC boss said the corps was saddled with the responsibility of protecting schoolchildren across the country and other mandates.

He said the safe school initiative to combat cultism, drug abuse and other social vices in schools placed additional responsibility on the corps, which requires continued upgrades of its personnel.

Responding, Mr AbdulKareem thanked Mr Adarawela for the visit and pledged his commitment to maintaining the relationship between the Nigerian Army and the NSCDC.

Mr AbdulKareem, who harped on the need for proactive intelligence gathering, said the NSCDC and other sister agencies saddled with internal security should work more closely with the public for better information.

Mr Bewaji, who also responded, stressed the need for personnel education on inter-agency collaboration, noting that synergy among security agencies remains the bedrock for achieving maximum security.

He said the task of enhanced security cannot be achieved by only one agency, stating, “We need each other as security operatives to conquer these common enemies: bandits, criminals, kidnappers and others.”

(NAN)