The operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra State Command on Monday, embarked on a “rigorous” show of force, massive deployment and area dominance in and around various flashpoints across the state.
The state commandant of the NSCDC, Olatunde Maku, said during the exercise that the objective is to protect the lives and property of residents.
The NSCDC also stressed that the deployments were also to protect critical national assets across the state to strengthen the state’s security in continuation of its anti-sit-at-home confidence-building patrol embarked upon by the Command.
Maku added that the deployment and visible patrolling of personnel are aimed at ensuring that Anambra residents are adequately protected and secured to carry out their legitimate businesses on Mondays.
The Monday sit-at-home exercise was introduced in 2021 across the South-East region by the Indigenous People of Biafra to protest against the rendition and continuous detention of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Although the IPOB group has said it has suspended the exercise, the people continue to observe it due to fear of attack by hoodlums who have used the exercise to unleash various attacks on businesses and properties, thereby forcing the people to comply.
On Mondays, both commercial and economic activities are always at a standstill whereby markets, motor parks, petrol filling stations, schools and other critical public enterprises remain shut on the day.
Commenting on the essence of the exercise, Maku said, “It is to build confidence for a seamless return to business on Mondays across the state and reassure the public that NSCDC in synergy with other security agencies have occupied the public space to send strong signals to misguided elements that it would not be business as usual because the Command will deny them any opportunity to perpetuate crime in the state.
“We have reviewed the current security situation in the state, and reinforced our operations with a robust patrol system that can checkmate any amoebic modus non-state actors might use to oppress members of the public.
“We are determined to protect lives and property, maintain effective serenity, and suppress the antics of the underworld personalities. The deployment of personnel saw the area domination of operatives at various critical national assets and banks across the state.”
According to him, officers deployed for this assignment are under the strict instructions of the state commandant to be “civil, professional and firm” in the discharge of their duties, abide with the Standard Operating Procedure and the Rules of Engagement.
“The confidence building attracted the opening of more banks from last week’s reportage of two banks to five banks this week, with full operations ongoing.
“The success of the operation is an indication that members of the public are tired of being forced to sit at home, we appealed to the people to assist the Command with vital information on the movement and activities of any suspicious person or group of persons who might pose danger to their security within their respective neighbourhood.
“We encouraged the people to go about their respective legitimate business as the operation would be sustained to revive the crumbled economic activities in the state and keep the unwanted miscreants off the state,” Maku stated.
The exercise, which covered all the banking facilities, business offices, and critical assets in the state, commenced from bank areas at Regina Ceili Junction, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, to Eke Awka Market and Ziks Avenue, Awka, where most of the financial institutions are cited.
