Undoubtedly, synergy amongst security agencies irrespective of statutory mandates is needed at all times.

Similarly, in order to succeed in their assignments, collaboration is also required among security agencies for the desired security to be achieved.

These assertions above are advocated by security experts and analysts. They have always underscored the need for synergy and cohesion among security agencies in view of the importance attached to it. Also, to know the effectiveness or otherwise of synergy, practical simulation programmes have been organised and the results were positive.

In view of all the above and as a meticulous officer whose regard for due process is second to none, Dr Godwin Ukpene Miebi, the 10th Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence (NSCDC), Kaduna State Command, carefully planned his strategies to succeed.

On assumption of duty after a ceremonial handing/ taking over from his predecessor, Nuraddeen Abdullahi, Dr Miebi presided over the first management meeting which was followed by a muster parade and address of entire personnel. To settle down for his assignment, he requested and got approval from Sir Kashim Ibrahim House Government House in order to submit his letter of posting to the State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai.

Represented by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan in company of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, the Governor welcomed the Commandant, assured him of state government’s support and further tasked him on actionable intelligence.

In continuation, Dr Miebi  whose desire from the onset was to succeed in his national assignment, extended familiarisation and courtesy visits to the State Director, Department of State Services, Commissioner of Police, Zonal Commander, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Controller of Corrections and Commander, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Other head of agencies visited were the Comptroller, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration and Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

According to the Commandant, the sole aim of his visit was to seek or strengthen existing synergy between the state command of NSCDC and sister paramilitary security agencies to succeed in the collective goal of security lives and property.

Thoughtfully, Dr Miebi also extended similar visits to some military formations in the state like Commander, 453 Base Services Group, Nigerian Air Force, Garrison Commander, 1Division Nigerian Army and Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy. His request to visit military formations like others was to seek synergy and training of NSCDC personnel etc.

Still in order to seek collaboration and support of other critical stakeholders, the Commandant deemed it essential to visit Zazzau Emirate Council and was received by His Highness Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamali in company of members of his Council. The Emir of Zazzau who doubles as Chairman, Kaduna State Traditional Council. Ambassador Bamali appreciated the Commandant and his entourage for the visit and security services provided by the corps. The Emir requested for more deployment of NSCDC operatives to his domain to checkmate what he described as increasing incidences of abduction and other crimes. Ambassador Bamali assured him of cooperation and support of the emirate and the entire traditional institution.

The Commandant in return for the visits, received on courtesy call Service Commanders, membership of different Nongovernmental  Organisations, Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), Religious bodies and youth groups etc.

Another significant milestone recorded by the Miebi administration is in the training and capacity building for NSCDC personnel on Techniques of investigating and prosecuting Anti-fraud related offences by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). From the Zonal Commander himself, the commission released over five resource persons to deliver different lectures to enthusiastic NSCDC participants in a 3-day training programme which was held at the Conference Hall of the State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

On the operational disposition of the command, the Commandant did not hesitate in implementing any of the directives of the Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni. Kaduna State command was among the first states to launch the Rapid Response Squad (RRS). Prior to the ceremonial launch of the squad, members were carefully chosen based on agility, credibility and record of good performance. For effective and efficient performance, operational vehicles were specially assigned to them to enhance their response to emergencies.

Similarly, in full support of the present Commandant General whose tenure has come with renewed vigour to rejig, revamp, reactivate, restructure and reposition the corps, when he introduced the Special Female Squad (SFS) and directed its replication in every state, Dr Miebi swiftly implemented it. He set up a screening committee which chose qualified female personnel who were subjected to rigorous training at the Correctional Service Staff College, Barnawa-Kaduna. The training of the Special Female Squad in Kaduna came to a close in a ceremony parade which attracted dignitaries from security agencies and formations. The representatives of the Commandant General of NSCDC, ACG Danladi Mungadi who is the Zonal Commander, NSCDC Zone ‘B’ Kaduna  as well as the Minister of Interior were at hand to grace the occasion.

Following the launch of the Rapid Response Squad with the Special Female Squad, operatives attached in the duo are contributing immensely towards improving security in the state and the nation in general.

On the protection of the critical national assets and infrastructure as well as Agro allied investments, the command is not left out. Personnel deployed in the Anti-vandal unit and their counterparts in Agro Rangers are leaving no stone unturned in safeguarding sites and investments against saboteurs.

Notably, NSCDC personnel from the command have been providing protection to experts and other workers  executing the Ajeokuta, Kaduna and Kano (AKK) Gas pipeline project. Materials for the project are equally in the custody of the corps. The same situation also applies to agriculture. In support of the Federal Government’s agricultural policy, the corps since signing the MoU with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture has been doing its best in either preventing attacks on agric investments. The deployment of NSCDC operatives to Golden Acres, located at Kilometer 52, Kaduna – Abuja Express way, Gurara, Agric Stores Mando, Dankande and Tomato Jos located along Kaduna – Jos Road are few examples.

Also, impactful is the contributions of NSCDC in the Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Unit (CBRNE). They try to ensure that genuine fertilizers are not adulterated. Part of their mandate is to ensure that such products do not get into the wrong hands where they are misused.

Knowing the potentials of other stakeholders, the Command collaborates with other critical stakeholders like Private Security Guards, voluntary organisations like Kaduna Vigilance Service, Coalition Joint Task Force and Hunters Group etc. As a sole regulator of Private Guard Companies, the partnership between NSCDC and PGCs in the state has been quite commendable. It has resulted in many stakeholders forum which drew participants from the corps, Association of License Security Practitioners Association of Nigeria (ALSPAN) and other security agencies. Other benefits of the collaboration is training and retraining of guards as well as closing quarks and unregistered private security outfits.

The performance of the command in investigating domestic and gender based violence (GBV) is also a remarkable feat. Due to this enhanced performance as a result of the support given by Commandant to the unit, there is an unprecedented high frequency of GBV reports lodged and attended by the command. To the credit of the command, it has secured convictions against perpetrators of domestic and gender based violence.

In spite of challenges of kidnapping and banditry etc affecting Kaduna State, the corps in synergy with other security agencies are making frantic efforts to overcome the ugly situation. This explains why joint security teams like Operations Yaki and thunder strike are still very relevant. Even though members of different criminal syndicates have claimed being adamant, many of them have also been neutralised in the course of unleashing terror and mayhem by members Joint Security teams. As members of different security teams maintain their fight against criminals, the public are collectively expected to support them so as to overcome the asymmetric  warfare.