All unlicensed Security Guard Companies in the country should henceforth stop operating.

The plea which came from Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps became imperative as such companies were operating illegally and the corps was working hard to curb their activities.

Corps Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Okeh, said the corps would clamp down on all such illegal operators and that it had instructed its personnel to monitor their activities.

According to Okeh, the corps would from time to time be sending its personnel around to monitor the operations of various companies and ensure that those operating are licensed.

Okeh said the establishment of the Licensed Private Security Guards Association of Nigeria had made monitoring easier as the body was tasked to ensure that every unlicensed private guard company found operating was reported to the corps.

He warned that any unlicensed private security guard companies found operating illegally would be shut and the owner arrested and taken to court, saying such owner if found guilty, would be sentenced to seven years imprison.

Okeh said those security guard companies found with expired licences would have their offices sealed and before unsealing them, the operators would pay a fine of N200,000 for a Grade A offence and N100,000 for a Grade B offence.