The Niger State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has issued a stern warning to individuals circulating an old video of an armed Civil Defence officer, stressing that the action poses a serious threat to national security.
The video, which recently gained attention on social media, shows a NSCDC operative, Idris Saidu, brandishing weapons in both hands.
He was alleged to be involved in supplying firearms to bandits and armed robbers.
However, in a statement released on Tuesday, the Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Command, Abubakar Muti, clarified that the footage is nearly a decade old and that the officer, Saidu, had been cleared of all accusations by the Niger State High Court.
Muti emphasized that the video’s reappearance was part of a malicious effort to damage the reputation of both the Corps and the officer involved. According to him, the incident was not a recent development but a deliberate attempt to discredit the NSCDC.
“The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Niger State Command, wishes to inform the general public that a false and misleading post circulating on social media, alleging the involvement of one of its personnel in supplying rifles to bandits, is entirely unfounded,” Muti stated.
He added that the claims made in the viral video were the result of a setup designed to tarnish the Corps’ public image.
The spokesman urged the public to stop sharing the video, as it was misleading and baseless.
Muti also provided legal backing for his statement, explaining that a court case related to the issue had already been settled, with the officer in question exonerated.
“The incident, nearly a decade old, was a malicious setup intended to tarnish the Corps’ image. We urge the public to disregard this information and refrain from sharing or circulating it further. Furthermore, the officer in question has been exonerated by a competent court with a subsisting court judgment and order clearing him of any wrongdoing. This unequivocal legal vindication confirms the baseless nature of these allegations,” Muti further clarified.
He specified that the court ruling was identified under suit number MN/MTB/CR/60/14, reiterating the importance of factual information and condemning the spread of false narratives that could have damaging effects on the Corps’ reputation.
Concluding the statement, Muti reaffirmed the commitment of the Niger State NSCDC to its primary duty of safeguarding the public and maintaining law and order.
He also warned that individuals responsible for spreading such falsehoods could face legal action, stressing, “We caution those spreading false information to desist from such harmful activities or face legal consequences, as they undermine national security and damage the Corps’ reputation.”
This incident underscores the importance of verifying information before it is circulated, especially when it involves issues of national security and the integrity of law enforcement agencies.
