Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abdullahi Muhammadu has directed the deployment of 40,000 personnel for the Eid Kabir festival.

Muhammadu said, the deployment of the personnel to strategic places such as praying grounds, market squares, recreational centres, shopping plazas and malls as well as all access roads and other designated areas noted as black spots is imperative to forestalling activities of criminal elements and insurgents whose aim is to attack soft targets and unleash mayhem during festive periods.

He assured Nigerians of a hitch free Eid Kabir celebration as he has directed all Zonal commanders, State Commandants including that of FCT and national headquarters operation directorate to carry out massive deployment in order to beef up security at all nooks and crannies of their various domains.

Apart from the deployment of personnel for physical security, he also approves the deployment of sniffer dogs, mobile surveillance vehicles (MSV) and ambulances to be stationed at designated areas by the disaster management and rescue team for quick intervention, rescue and administration of first aid treatment in the event of any disaster.

Other specialised units for this special assignment includes the Special Weapon and Tactical Squad (SWAT), Chemical-Biological, Radioactive and Nuclear Unit (CBRN), intelligent and surveillance team and Special Force for the protection of Critical Infrastructure and National Assets especially at this sensitive period.

He encouraged the Corps personnel to avoid clashes but to synergise, cooperate and work in harmony with other sister Agencies during the festive period and beyond as anyone found culpable would be dealt with accordingly.

The Corps helmsman implored his personnel to be diplomatic through the application of good human relations strategy in dealing with the Civil populace and ensuring that the principle of Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism (ADR) is engaged in resolving disputes and crisis.

Stressing that, with unity of purpose, security agencies can tackle and overcome any form of security challenges confronting the nation.

In the same vein, he reiterated the corps readiness to combat vandals, illegal bunkerers, oil theives and those with the intention of committing crime during this festive season, advising all criminally minded individuals to relocate as a serious crack down is about to begin.

He said the Corps is committed to restoring peace and security at all time and urges members of the public to help with useful information to nip crime and criminality in the bud.