The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed 55,000 operatives across the country to ensure the safety of citizens and the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure during the yuletide celebrations.
The deployment was ordered by the Commandant General of the Corps, Prof. Ahmed Audi, as part of coordinated efforts with other security agencies to maintain peace and security throughout the festive period.
Prof. Audi said the measure became necessary to strengthen the nation’s security architecture, noting that criminal elements often exploit festive seasons to perpetrate unlawful activities.
He emphasised that prevailing security threats, including banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes, terrorism and insurgency, could be effectively addressed if citizens embraced the culture of providing credible and timely intelligence to relevant security agencies.
In a statement signed by the Corps’ Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, the Commandant General directed all Zonal Commanders to closely monitor commands under their jurisdictions, while State Commandants were instructed to coordinate Area Commands, divisional offices and other formations.
According to the statement, the deployed operatives were drawn from both covert and overt departments to ensure that criminal elements have no room to operate during the celebrations.
“It is imperative for members of the public to trust and collaborate with us by giving us credible and timely information to enable us to act swiftly in order to prevent crimes rather than being reactive,” Audi said.
“Our unwavering commitment is to ensure a safe and secure environment, and that can only be possible when there is public support for security agencies,” he added.
He further assured that the NSCDC would continue to work in synergy with sister security agencies to guarantee a peaceful atmosphere that would allow citizens to celebrate and carry out their activities safely throughout the yuletide season.
