Pix: Commandant Ishaku Musa

In a decisive move to regulate the activities of private security operators and strengthen internal security across Plateau State, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has ordered the immediate shutdown of all illegal private security companies operating without proper registration and licensing.

The State Commandant of NSCDC in Plateau, Ishaku Musa, gave the directive following an intensive intelligence-led surveillance operation that uncovered the proliferation of unregistered and unregulated private guard outfits across the state. According to him, these unauthorized firms pose serious threats to public safety and national security by operating outside the confines of the law.

“No private security outfit is permitted to operate in Nigeria without being licensed and supervised by the NSCDC,” Musa said during a press briefing in Jos. “The activities of these illegal companies not only violate the Private Guards Companies Act but also compromise the integrity of our national security architecture.”

The NSCDC boss noted that some of these companies engage in questionable recruitment practices, employ untrained and unvetted personnel, and sometimes even collude with criminal elements. He emphasized that such lapses can lead to breaches in critical infrastructure, property theft, and even violent crimes.

Commandant Musa warned that any individual or company found flouting the law would be arrested and prosecuted accordingly. He said a state-wide task force has been set up to identify, investigate, and dismantle all illegal security firms, adding that operations would be sustained until total compliance is achieved.

The Commandant stressed that registration ensures that all security personnel undergo proper background checks, are professionally trained, and operate under strict ethical and operational guidelines.

Musa stated that registration with the NSCDC not only legitimizes a company’s operations but also integrates it into the broader national security network, thereby enhancing collaboration with law enforcement agencies. He described NSCDC’s oversight as vital to ensuring quality assurance, professionalism, and accountability in the private security sector.

He urged residents, businesses, and government establishments to verify the operational status of any security company they engage, noting that employing the services of unregistered outfits exposes lives and property to significant risk.

While reaffirming the Corps’ commitment to its mandate of protecting lives, property, and critical infrastructure, Commandant Musa called on all private security operators yet to register with the NSCDC to begin the process immediately or face the full weight of the law.

“Security is too important to be left in the hands of quacks,” he declared. “Only companies that have complied with the NSCDC’s registration and vetting procedures will be allowed to operate in Plateau State.”

The NSCDC further encouraged the public to report suspicious security operations or unidentified guard services in their neighborhoods through the command’s official complaint channels.

This enforcement campaign, according to Commandant Musa, is part of a broader national effort to sanitize the private security industry and reinforce public trust in regulated security services.