The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has given clarity none of its officials was arrested for smuggling passengers into Ebonyi State.
Earlier, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Internal Security and Border Peace, Mr Stanley Emegha, had on Friday, said that one Mbam James was arrested on account smuggling people on his motorcycle into the state under the guise of an NSCDC official.
However, the Media Assistant to the NSCDC Commandant General, Ekunola Gbenga, has said Mbam James’ name was not in their database, in a press statement.
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.
“However, we wish to place on record that the said Mbam James from all available records is not a staff of NSCDC.”
The statement added 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.