He is not one of us, NSCDC disowns ‘official’ arrested in Ebonyi

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), on Sunday said none of its official was arrested for smuggling passengers into Ebonyi in contravention of the border closure order in place in the state.

According to the NSCDC, the corps does not have a record of the suspect as an officer.

It would be recalled that Ebonyi State Commissioner for Internal Security and Border Peace, Mr Stanley Emegha, had on Friday, announced the arrest of one Mbam James, who was said to be an official of the NSCDC.

James was arrested for allegedly smuggling two passengers on his motorcycle into Ebonyi State.

Reacting to the news, the Media Assistant to the NSCDC Commandant General, Ekunola Gbenga, in a press statement on Sunday, said Mbam James’ name was not contained in the database of the corps.

The statement read: “The attention of the corps has been called to a report on a section of media that the Ebonyi State Neighbourhood Security Watch has arrested one Mr Mbam James, who claimed to be a personnel of the NSCDC attached to Orumba Umunze in Anambra State and two other passengers he smuggled into the state with his motorcycle.

Read also: COVID-19: Islamic leader arrested for flouting ban on gatherings

“However, we wish to place on record that the said Mbam James from all available records is not a staff of NSCDC.”

The statement further disclosed that the NSCDC’s commandant General, Abdullahi Muhammadu, has ordered an investigation into the case.

“Therefore, on hearing the report, the Commandant General ordered an investigation into the case.

“While the investigation is ongoing, it should be noted that the suspect shall be prosecuted in the court of law immediately he lives withholding centre in Ebonyi, where he is been quarantined and expected to be tested for COVID-19,” the statement added.

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