The Kogi State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Paul Igwebuike, has approved the deployment of 1,800 officers to provide security before, during and after the Eid-el-Kabir celebration in the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Command Public Relations Officer, DSC Abdulkahi Aliyu, in Lokoja and made available on Friday.

The deployment, according to the spokesperson, was in line with the directive of the NSCDC Commandant General, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, to ensure a hitch-free Eid-el-Kabir across the country.

The statement tasked the Area Commanders of NSCDC in Kogi State to ensure proper security coordination in their areas, while Divisional Officers are to effectively mobilize their personnel across the board.

According to Aliyu, the State Commandant of NSCDC further directed that all component commanders and all special forces should be deployed to achieve watertight security for maximum protection of the populace, critical national assets, and infrastructure in the state.

“Our resolve to guarantee peace, safety, and protection of lives and critical assets in synergy with other security agencies must be carried out through our collective inputs. For these obvious reasons, I have directed all Area Commanders and Divisional Officers with these responsibilities; therefore, everyone must brace up to discharge their responsibilities satisfactorily,” the statement quoted the NSCDC Commandant.

He added that the Commandant has also mandated all formations within the State Command to engage community stakeholders in gathering credible and relevant intelligence and carry out comprehensive surveillance before, during, and after the celebration to prevent surprises from criminals.

“The deployment of personnel should focus on prayer grounds, worship centers, recreational facilities, motor parks, gardens, markets, shopping complexes, black spots and critical installations to ensure the festivity is hitch-free,” Aliyu stated.