The Police command in Cross River, has assured residents and tourists of adequate security during the 2016 annual Calabar carnival scheduled to commence Dec. 1.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, gave the assurance on Tuesday, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.
Ozi-Obeh said that the command had strengthened its security with a view to curbing any emergency cases of security in the state at the annual festival which attracts thousands of tourists from within and outside the country.
“The one month annual festival will be officially flagged off on Dec. 1. We have witnessed the first and second dry-run and there were no security hitches.
“The command is ever ready to provide adequate security for thousands of tourists that will be coming in for the festival.
“I want to assure you that we are working in collaboration with other sister agencies to ensure that the carnival period is celebrated peacefully in the state,’’ he assured.
Mr Clement Adesuyi, the Cross River Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), also assured the people of the state and tourists coming for the carnival of adequate security.
Adesuyi said that the command would deploy intelligence and uniform officers to different locations in the state to ensure a peaceful Christmas and carnival celebration.
According to him, one of the objectives of the corps is to protect the lives and property of the citizenry.
“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 the carnival period and beyond.
“Our men on uniform and those of the intelligent department will be deployed to strategic locations in the state to ensure a smooth carnival and Christmas celebration,’’ he said. (NAN)