The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Gombe State Command, on Monday deployed 720 officers and men across the state to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
The State Commandant, Jibrin Idris, disclosed this in a press statement obtained by our correspondent while announcing the command’s security arrangements for the festive period.
According to Idris, the deployment is aimed at maintaining law and order before, during and after the celebrations.
He said, “Our mandate is to protect lives, property and critical national assets. For this Sallah, we have mobilised our officers to be visible, proactive and responsive across Gombe State.
“I assure the public that we are fully prepared to prevent any threat to peace and security during and after the celebration.”
The commandant explained that personnel had been strategically deployed to all the 11 Local Government Areas of the state, with special attention given to Eid prayer grounds, emir’s palaces, highways, recreational centres, markets, shopping malls, motor parks, worship centres and other public places expected to witness large gatherings.
He added that specialised units, including the Counter-Terrorism Unit, Anti-Vandal Squad, Disaster Management Unit, Rapid Response Squad, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives Unit, as well as the Intelligence and Investigation Department, had been mobilised to guarantee effective coverage and rapid response.
Idris noted that the command had also intensified patrols and surveillance around critical national assets and infrastructure to prevent vandalism, theft and other criminal activities often associated with festive periods.
He said the deployment was intelligence-driven and in line with the directives of the Commandant General of the corps, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, to ensure Nigerians celebrate in a safe and secure environment.
The commandant urged residents of Gombe to cooperate with security agencies, obey traffic regulations, avoid overcrowding and report suspicious movements to the nearest NSCDC office.
“Security is a collective responsibility. While our men are on ground, we need timely information from the public to act swiftly and prevent any incident,” he said.
He also congratulated the Muslim faithful on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir and urged them to pray for peace, unity and progress in the state and the country.