Boko Haram: NSCDC deploys 600 personnel to worship centres in Maiduguri

THE Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Borno Command, has deployed about 600 personnel to various worship centres in Maiduguri to assure worshippers of their safety.

The State Commandant of the Corps, Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, made the disclosure on Sunday in Maiduguri in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said the deployment was part of efforts to curtail suspected suicide bomb attacks by Boko Haram at worship centres, especially during the month of Ramadan.

He said that the team included men of the anti-riot squad, bomb detection and disposal unit as well as intelligence and detective unit.

“We have also boosted our security checks and patrol at various institutions of learning especially University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) that had suffered many attacks this year.

“The students should therefore have no course for alarm as they go about their studies,’’ he said.

Abdullahi said the command had also increased its surveillance at commercial centres, markets, motor parks, amusement parks and shopping malls in the state capital to ensure protection of the populace.

“We therefore appeal to residents to assist the security agencies with relevant information that will enable us nip any suspected threat of Boko Haram or any other elements in the bud.

“We advise all worship centres in the areas where we are not stationed our personnel to ensure that some persons be on the watch while others are praying.

“They should also be alert to strange faces,’’ Abdullahi cautioned.