The Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, has ordered the deployment of 40,000 personnel for the Easter celebration across the nation.
He gave the directive in Abuja felicitating with the Christian faithful. He urged them to live exemplary life preached by Christ, who sacrificed Himself for the sin of mankind.
He reiterated that, fasting period as observed by Christians worldwide before the Easter, is a time meant for sober reflections, alms-giving, reconciliation, tolerance and making peace with one another in ensuring lasting peace and harmony in the society and above all prayers; especially for the nation at this trying times.
He urged Christians not to see this as a time of merriment and fun fare alone but should be seen as a time of tolerating one another irrespective of the religious differences and praying for the peace of the Nation and the release of the Dapchi girl remaining.
However, apart from the deployment of personnel, sniffer dogs, specialised units, such as CBRN, Special Force, Counter Terrorism, Ambulances, Surveillance team are to be deployed to strategic areas.
He charged the personnel to ensure the protection of Critical Infrastructure within their localities against vandals and enemies of the nation as well as tightening of security around the schools not only in the North-East but in all states especially the turbulent ones.
The Corps Chief Executive also gave a directive to all Zonal Commanders and State Commandants to ensure efficient deployment of their personnel to all nooks and crannies for effective policing of lives and property against any form of attack especially identified black spots, schools, market places, praying grounds, plazas, shopping complexes, parks, recreation centres and gardens, as well as bus stops, pedestral bridges to tackle the high profile security threat of one chance, picking pockets, car snatching, bag snatching, rape, kidnapping among others.
Furthermore, the Commandant General urged his personnel to work in synergy with other sister agencies as the Corps will not tolerate any form of sabotage and crisis between the Corps personnel and other sister agency over issues that could be avoided.
He therefore, warned personnel against any act of confrontation with personnel of other sister agencies and members of the public by, urging them to always remember the Corps principle of no compromise while discharging their duties and should avoid the use of force and coercive language on the populace whom they are to protect. He said any officer or Command found wanting will be sanctioned appropriately.
He stressed that partnership and collaboration was very pertinent as all agencies were working towards a single goal of protecting the society against insecurity and fostering peace and unity in the nation.
He advised parents to warn their wards to desist from any act that is inimical to the society, especially as vandals and saboteurs capitalise on festive periods to carry out their nefarious act.
“The law is no respecter of anyone, therefore anyone caught, will face the long arm of the law”, he added.
Hence, he warned, that vandals, illegal oil bunkerers, oil thieves and operatives of illegal Private Guards Company, kidnappers should desist or relocate to another country as there was no hidden place for them.
