The Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Olusola Odumosu, has ordered the deployment of 3,500 personnel across Abuja and its environs to maintain law and order during the Easter celebrations.

Speaking at the Corps’ headquarters in Abuja while addressing officers ahead of the Easter operations, Odumosu said the deployment is aimed at safeguarding Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, as well as protecting lives and property of residents and visitors throughout the festive period.

According to him, the personnel were drawn from various departments and specialized units including Operations, Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI), Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosives (CBRNE), Mines and Steel, Special Duty, Special Protection Unit (SPU), Anti-Vandals Unit, and elite squads such as the Female Strike Force, Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Arms Squad, and Operation Adakasu.

Odumosu emphasized the importance of securing vulnerable locations and soft targets such as churches, markets, shopping malls, motor parks, recreational centres, amusement parks, the city gate, and the Three Arms Zone.

He also directed that all government buildings and locations housing key national infrastructure must be adequately guarded to prevent acts of vandalism, which tend to rise during festive seasons.

“On no account should any Critical Infrastructure be vandalized during the Easter holiday, therefore, adequate deployment of personnel to all nooks and crannies of the FCT must be ensured.

“The government has given us a responsibility to protect lives and property, maintain peace, order and to keep miscreants and criminals at bay and, take note, they are observing our activities keenly. 

“We have no excuse for failure and we can’t afford to fail, that is why personally, I will be on patrol as usual to ensure compliance and i won’t tolerate any form of indiscipline, compromise or any activities that would jettison our efforts in providing satisfactory security coverage for the FCT”, the Commandant said.