Crisis shakes NATCOM: Provost announces suspension of acting Director General Fidel

The Provost of the National Proliferation Coordination and Control Commission against Small Arms, Ammunition, Light Weapons and Pipeline Vandalism in Nigeria (NATCOM), Silas Uchendu Ihemeremadu, has reacted to an alleged vote of confidence in a certain Agaba Iduh Fidel as acting Director General of NATCOM.

In a statement released in Abuja on Monday, Ihemeremadu described the alleged support for Fidel as fake and said he remained suspended from the organization.

He pointed out that Agaba Iduh Fidel was among the members who were suspended from office as NATCOM member in 2023 by a disciplinary committee set up by the leadership of the organization for abuse of office and extortion of money from some gullible members of the public.

A few weeks ago, a certain Otumba Adejare Adegbenro Nurudeen was also arrested for organising a fake three-day sensitisation, orientation and awareness training for some officers and soldiers in Abuja.

During the program, he allegedly extorted 5,500 Naira from each participant for the documentation.

Nurudeen was subsequently arrested by the Small Arms, Ammunition and Light Weapons Team of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Abuja for his illegal activities and remains under investigation at the police headquarters.

However, the sponsor of the NATCOM Bill passed by the 9th and 10th National Assemblies, Dr. Baba Mohammed, advised the public not to engage in illegal activities that pose a threat to peace in Nigeria as such violations would be punished under federal law.

He urged all those who have genuine appointment letters signed by him to be patient in their orientation and training when President Bola Tinubu magnanimously signs the NATCOM bill and generously appoints Dr. Baba Mohammed as the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chairman of NATCOM respectively.