The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has ordered zonal commanders and state commandants of the Corps to deploy personnel massively to ensure security during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
A statement by the Corps’ spokesman, Olusola Odumosu, on Friday, said the CG gave the order while speaking with senior officers ahead of the festive period.
“We are going to deploy additional plainclothes and uniformed officers on the field and in public places to patrol and help prevent and address criminality that may arise in the course of the celebrations.
“About 85 per cent of our entire workforce shall be deployed to public places, worship centres and other areas of congregation such as amusement parks, gardens, shopping malls, markets, motor parks, train stations including airports and seaports,” he was quoted as saying.
While charging them to smoke criminals out of their various hideouts, Audi also told them to ensure the safety of lives and the protection of public assets and infrastructures in their respective domains.
The CG tasked State Commands down to all Divisional Offices in every local government area in the country to deploy effective operation teams for constant patrol of every nook and cranny, black spot and flashpoint during this critical period when crime is most prevalent.
He also charged them to develop and deploy a very strong and purposeful intelligence network around essential and critical national assets and infrastructure to eliminate significant vulnerabilities during the yuletide.
Audi tasked officers and men to remain committed to enforcing the law and checkmating anyone causing a breach of the peace or threatening public safety across the country particularly in churches, mosques and other places of major public convergence during the celebrations.