The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has deployed 28,300 personnel to adequately secure critical national assets and infrastructure before and during Christmas and New Year celebrations.

This was revealed in a statement by NSCDC on Friday.

It said the deployed operatives were drawn from the crack squad, special force, intelligence department, anti-vandal and other operations units. The security agency said the deployment was necessary to prevent economic saboteurs from ripping the nation of its resources.

The spokesperson said the operatives were directed to identify and protect flash points such as recreational centres, religious gatherings, motor parks, shopping malls and other areas.

The statement noted that the NSCDC commandant-general, Ahmed Audi, charged all zonal and state commandants on the need to improve their information-gathering techniques.

Mr Audi warned the state heads to proactively tackle vandalism as no destruction of national assets and infrastructure in any formation would be tolerated.

“This is our statutory mandate, so all hands must be on deck as we approach the end of the year as you are aware that criminal-minded persons often take advantage of festive seasons to perpetrate their nefarious activities.

“I, therefore, charge you to brighten your eagle eyes and reinvigorate your intelligence tactics as this would make you more proactive than reactive,” he said.

Mr Audi affirmed that the Christmas and New Year celebrations would be hitch-free while urging the public to give credible intelligence to the NSCDC and other security agencies to arrest suspected criminals.

(NAN)