File: Police officers in action

The police command in Katsina State says it will deploy no fewer than 3,500 policemen to provide security to residents during the forthcoming Eid-Fitr celebration.

The command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Gambo Isah, disclosed this to newsmen on Tuesday in Katsina.

He said security men would be deployed to strategic locations across the state to ensure a hitch free celebration, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN.

Isah further said that additional 500 personnel from the Nigerian Army and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps would also join the policemen to provide security during the period.

He added that “plain-clothed security operatives will also be deployed to all the prayer venues including the Central Mosque, Katsina, GRA Mosque, Ibn Coomassie Mosque, Modoji praying ground and Umaru Musa Yar’adua University Mosque, among other Eid praying grounds across the state.”

The police spokesman said security would also be beefed up with regular plain-clothed and mounted troops along the routes that the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Kabir Usman, would pass when paying Sallah homage (Hawan Bariki) to Gov. Aminu Masari and during Durbar display.

‘’Security measures will also be made in Daura Emirate and other parts of the state where Area Commanders and the Divisional Police Officers (DPO) will mobilise security for hitch free Eid-Fitr celebrations.

‘’Special squad made up of CP’S Surveillance team, Police Medical team and Safer Highways Patrol team will be in strategic places and roundabouts across the state as well as at entry and exit points to Katsina to ward off unforeseen circumstances,’’ he said.

He, therefore, implored parents to monitor the movement of their children during the celebration.

Isah warned “area boys” and petty thieves who might want to snatch handsets and money in Mosques and other gatherings to rescind their decision.

“Our personnel are on ground and any hoodlum (Kaura) who is thinking of snatching peoples’ money or handset will be arrested as our plain-clothed personnel and mounted troops are to be placed at strategic locations to handle the situation,’’ he said