By Adadareporters
Ahead of this year’s Christmas, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC), Anambra State Command, has ordered the deployment of 2,046 officers and men drawn from various departments and units to safeguard public spaces, maintain peace and order, and attend to emergencies before, during and after the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Mr Edwin Okadigbo, the corps’ Public Relations Officer, disclosed this in a release made available to our correspondent in Awka in Thursday.
He stated that the deployment was in line with the resolve of the command to create an enabling environment for end-of-year-festivities, ensure protection of lives, and all critical national assets and infrastructure in and around the state.
Okadigbo said, “Officers and men detailed for this critical assignment are under strict instruction of the state commandant to be civil but firm in the discharge of their functions, work closely with other security agencies, local communities and relevant stakeholders to repudiate plans by hoodlums who may want to take undue advantage of the season to perpetrate crimes.”
The state commandant, Mr Edwin Osuala, in the release, directed Area Commanders and Divisional Officers to put their men ‘on their toes in all public places, worship centres, public assets such as power, transportation networks, communication facilities, and recreation centres to avoid any untoward incident.
The corps operatives from Anti-vandalism Squad, Rapid Response Squad, Special Female Squad, Disaster Management Unit, Counter Terrorism Unit, Agro Rangers Squad, Medical Unit, Intelligence and Investigation Department, and Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Protection Squad were also placed on red alert, it was gathered.
The commandant enjoined members of the public and Christian faithful to be law abiding before, during and after the Yuletide. He urged them to continue to support the NSCDC and other security agencies with credible information or call the command’s emergency number 0806 676 9442 for prompt response.