Pix: Abia State Commandant of the corps, Usman Alfadarai,

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abia Command, has said that it will take stringent steps to ensure that hoodlums did not hijack the August 1 nationwide protest.

The State Commandant of the corps, Usman Alfadarai, said this while briefing newsmen in his office in Umuahia on Tuesday.

Alfadarai spoke on the command’s preparedness to protect critical national infrastructure and property during the protest and ensure that criminal elements did not infiltrate the movement to destroy public infrastructure.

He said that the command had made adequate arrangements to protect law-abiding citizens and locations of all critical national assets and infrastructure in the state.

He also said that the command had massively deployed personnel to safeguard lives and national assets as well as other property in the state.

He said, “Based on credible intelligence and past experiences with such protests, we have observed that criminal elements often attempt to hijack such actions,” the state NSCDC chief said.

He further said that the corps would work in synergy with other security agencies and well-meaning, law-abiding Nigerians to safeguard the lives and property of the citizens in the state.

Alfadarai acknowledged the constitutional rights of all Nigerians to protest in accordance with the dictate of the law but urged the protesters to do so peacefully and in compliance with the law.

“We will not permit anyone, whether individuals or associations, to damage public property under the pretext of protest or any other excuse.

“Our command’s 24/7 hotline : 07072407784 remains open for the public to report any suspicious activities within their localities,” he said.