70,500 Security Personnel Deployed As Sultan Declares Wednesday Eid-Fitri

THE Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, on Monday, declared Wednesday, as the day of Eid-Fitr.

The Sultan, who is the President General of Nigeria’s Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, said the decision followed the report of National Moon Sighting Committees across the country which confirmed the non-sighting of the new moon.

A statement signed by the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs to the Sultanate Council, Prof Sambo Junaidu, made available to newsmen in Sokoto on Monday evening, said, “The council accepted the report and accordingly declared Wednesday, April 10, 2024, as the first day of Shawwal 1445AH.

“His Eminence, the Sultan felicitates with the Nigerian Muslim Ummah and wishes them Allah’s guidance and blessings.

“The Sultan, while urging the Muslim Ummah to continue to pray for peace, progress, and development of the country, also wishes all Muslims a happy Eid-El-Fitri.

“The crescent moon was not sighted in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, Eid Al Fitr will be celebrated on Wednesday, 10th April 2024.”

The Federal Government had declared today and tomorrow as a holiday for the celebration before the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia while announcing that the moon was not sighted, declared tomorrow as Eid-el-Fitr.

Meanwhile, to mark the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr celebrations across the country, security agencies, including the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, state security outfits and others have deployed personnel to protect worship centres, direct traffic and ensure a hitch-free event.

In preparation for a hitch-free celebration, the Commandant-General, NSCDC, Ahmed Audi, ordered the strategic deployment of over 40,000 personnel across the federation.

Audi gave the directive based on current security challenges and the need to proactively tackle crimes.

In a statement signed by the corps spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, on Monday, the CG hinted that the corps would deploy both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to nip in the bud all acts of criminalities before, during and after the Eid-el-Fitr celebration in various states of the nation.

“As the Holy month of Ramadan comes to a close, on behalf of the management and personnel of the NSCDC, it is my pleasure to congratulate all our Muslim brothers all over the nation wishing them a blessed, peaceful and joyful Eid-el-Fitr.

“This felicitation is with unwavering assurance that the celebration will go very smoothly and without any hitch as officers and men of the Corps would be deployed strategically in public places, Eid prayer grounds, shopping malls, markets, motor parks and various flashpoints across various formations and states of the federation.

“Notably, the State Commandants have been directed to deploy their personnel to strategic locations and flashpoints while ensuring strong collaborations with other sister security agencies and adequate supervision of their personnel for effective service delivery,” Audi was quoted to have said.

For the deployment at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the Commandant of the command, Olusola Odumosu, as contained in a statement signed by the command’s spokesperson, Samuel Idoko, deployed 5,000 personnel to cover all the nooks and crannies of the six Area Councils as well as the city centre, especially sensitive locations, soft targets, black spots and flashpoints.

He hinted that the command deployed all the special forces such as the Armed Squad, Female Strike Force, Intelligence, Counter Terrorism Unit, Special Crack Squad (operation Adaka-su), Intelligence and Agro Rangers to ensure the maintenance of law and order.

In Kano, the state command, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Abdullahi, a copy of which was made available to The Punch on Monday, said, “To this end, the State Commandant, Mohammed Falala, has approved the deployment of over 3,200 officers and men across the state.”

According to him, the operatives, drawn from Departments, Units, Area commands, Divisional Offices as well as Outposts, will be drafted to different Eid grounds, recreational/event centres and strategic locations across Kano.

The Osun State Commandant of NSCDC, Dr Michael Adaralewa, said the command would deploy 1,500 personnel across the state

Adaralewa, in a statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Kehinde Adeleke, obtained in Osogbo, said the operatives were drawn from various units in the command.

Besides praying grounds, recreation centres, malls and marketplaces, critical national assets would be secured during the celebrations.

The release partly read, “1,500 personnel drawn from the special female squad, Swift Action Response, Anti-Vandalism Unit, Armed Squad, Crisis Management, Intelligence and Surveillance Unit, and Anti-Kidnapping and Cultism Unit will be deployed for overt and covert operations for adequate security of lives and property during the celebrations.

“Our patrol teams will cover the state, while some personnel will be deployed in strategic locations. Also, praying grounds, recreation centres, malls, marketplaces, and critical national assets will be secured before during and after the celebrations.”

The  Anambra State command deployed 951 personnel to provide security at Eid prayer grounds.

In a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Edwin Okadigbo and made available to newsmen in Awka, on Monday, the State Commandant, Mr Olatunde Maku, said the deployment was to ensure security coverage for lives and all critical government infrastructure during the Eid-el-Fitr celebration in the state.

“The deployment of 951 personnel across the state is a move to tighten the noose around criminals and their henchmen.

“It is a proactive and robust anti-crime measure to prevent any untoward incidents in and around the state as well as ensure that miscreants and disgruntled elements do not take advantage of the occasion to perpetrate criminality,” he said.

Maku said NSCDC personnel would be at the Eid- prayer grounds, recreational spots and locations of critical government infrastructure.