By Oyibo Salihu
Lokoja
Cross River state Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has assured the people of the state and tourists for the carnival celebration of adequate security.
Its Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Solomon Eremi, gave the assurance yesterday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Eremi said the Command had deployed intelligence and uniform officers to different locations of the state to ensure a peaceful Christmas and carnival celebration in the state.
According to him, one of the objectives of the corps is to protect the lives and property of the citizenry.
He said: “I want to assure the peaceful people of Cross River and tourists that the state command of NSCDC is on alert to respond to all security challenges within this carnival period and beyond.
“Our men on uniform and those of the intelligence department have also been deployed to strategic locations in the state to ensure a smooth carnival and Christmas celebration.”
He advised the people of Cross River and tourists to be law abiding, saying that the corps “is a friendly force.”
NAN reports that earlier, the Deputy Governor, Prof. Ivara Isu, inaugurated the carnival with a walk from the Millennium Park through major routes in the metropolis.
Similarly, the venue for the carnival village, the Zoo Garden was unveiled by Isu.