August protest: NSCDC deploys 30,000 personnel for security

As a proactive measure in forestalling all acts of criminalities, disruption of peace, breakdown of law and order, vandalism of critical infrastructure and violence in the planned protest slated for 1-10 August; the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Ahmed Audi, has ordered deployment of 30,000 personnel to secure the country.

The NSCDC boss also ordered the rolled out of the Standard Operating Procedures (SoP) for officers and men deployed to Safeguard Critical National Assets and Infrastructure and protect lives and property of citizens before, during and after the protest.

In a statement released Monday in Abuja, Dr Audi gave the charge while addressing State Commandants and Zonal Commanders in an emergency security briefing held at the Corps national headquarters.

He urged the officers and men to display a high sense of professionalism and civility while discharging their constitutional roles and responsibility affirming that the Corps will not tolerate any act of brutality or infringement on citizens’ fundamental human rights.

“You must ensure the protest is peaceful as we do not want violence, destruction of assets, killings and burning of properties; therefore it behoves you to work within the whims and caprices of the NSCDC Standard Operating Procedures and Code of Ethical Standard.

”Your role is to maintain peace and ensure that government infrastructure, utilities and property are adequately protected from hoodlums who might want to hijack the whole process to carry out their nefarious acts.

“Do not molest or harass any citizen as they protest peacefully knowing fully well that they have the right to protest but they do not have the right to destroy government properties.

“Based on the foregoing I have ordered the deployment of no fewer than 30,000 personnel nationwide which includes Intelligence and other Tactical Units across all Formations; the Zonal Commanders and all State Commandants in the 36 States and FCT are to supervise their personnel and monitor the protest with a view of ensuring the protection of lives and property as well as securing the nation’s critical assets and infrastructure.”

The NSCDC CG also gave a stern warning against over-zealousness, bullying and human rights violation stating categorically that the Corps would not condone any action that paints the NSCDC image in bad colour.

He further appealed to the Nigerian youths to resist the temptation of being used by untoward individuals with sinister intentions but should rather embrace dialogue in their protests as any attempt to destroy or vandalize the nation’s facilities and Infrastructure would not be tolerated.

The NSCDC boss however affirmed that the Corps would continue to collaborate with other Sister Security Agencies to promote peaceful coexistence and strengthen the security architecture of the nation at large.