The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has announced major operational achievements, including the destruction of 283 illegal refineries, thwarting of 48 school kidnapping attempts, and arrest of 4,677 suspected economic saboteurs.
Commandant General of the NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, disclosed these figures while presenting his stewardship at the grand finale of the 2026 World Civil Defence Day celebration in Abuja. He highlighted reforms, intensified security operations, and institutional expansion as key drivers of the Corps’ successes.
Audi explained that between March 2021 and early 2026, the Corps destroyed 283 illegal refineries across the country, arrested 4,677 suspected saboteurs, prosecuted 2,039 cases, and secured 638 convictions. Intelligence-driven operations were strengthened through the establishment of the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad, which arrested 5,196 suspects between January 2022 and January 2026, seized 841 trucks, and prosecuted hundreds linked to oil theft and infrastructure vandalism.
He also noted that the NSCDC Special Female Squad successfully thwarted more than 48 planned school kidnapping attempts nationwide, significantly enhancing security around educational institutions. In the agricultural sector, the Agro Rangers unit arrested 186 cattle rustlers, recovered 125 cattle, and mediated over 1,000 disputes between farmers and herders.
Beyond field operations, Audi emphasized reforms in the private security industry. He reported that 376 new private guard firms were registered, 3,869 licences renewed, and 443 non-compliant companies sealed, with ₦4.47 billion generated and remitted into Nigeria’s Consolidated Revenue Fund. He added that 15,157 private guards were trained nationwide, while improved monitoring and supervision helped sanitise the sector for more effective service delivery.
Audi further revealed that the deployment of the Mining Marshal Squad significantly boosted government earnings from the mining sector, increasing revenue from about ₦6 billion to ₦38 billion through the protection of mining sites and the fight against illegal mining activities. He also highlighted staff capacity development, citing the establishment of the Command and Staff College in Jos and the College of Arms Squad and Support Services in Nasarawa, alongside a standardized training curriculum across all NSCDC institutions.
At the event, Secretary General of the International Civil Defence Organization (ICDO), Arguj Kalantarli, stressed the importance of environmental risk management and international cooperation in strengthening resilience against humanitarian crises.
Audi, appointed Commandant General in February 2021, described the Corps’ achievements as evidence of “responsible and result-driven service,” expressing confidence that the NSCDC would continue to evolve to meet Nigeria’s dynamic security challenges.
By Palma Ileye, Abuja
