Coronation: Police, NSCDC deploy 5,300 personnel in Benin

FILE PHOTO: A police patrol vehicle

The Edo Police Command and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) have deployed 5,300 personnel to provide security within Benin metropolis during the coronation of Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa as the new Oba of Benin on Thursday.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Haliru Gwandu, told newsmen in Benin that his command would deploy 5,000 policemen for the occasion.

Gwandu said the deployment was necessary in view of the number of high profile personalities from across the world that would attend the ceremony.

“The process of coronation is ongoing and I think the last day will be on Thursday and quite a number of personalities are expected to grace the occasion.

“We have decided to remain proactive to make sure that the town is not infested with unguarded elements who will disrupt public peace.

“We will try to provide an enabling environment, having discovered that the number of very important personalities who are going to attend the ceremony is very high.

“We have information that the occasion is very attractive to the international community. Ambassadors from US, ambassadors from the UK, our neighboring countries, our paramount rulers, and of course, other very important personalities are expected to attend.

“So, we have to ensure that the society is safe, our people are secure.

“We will do everything humanly possible to protect them and prevent the influx of misguided elements because of these important dignitaries that are coming,” the commissioner said.

The NSCDC Spokesperson, Mr Efosa Ogbebor, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the command would deploy 300 personnel for the event, which include the arms squad, anti-bomb unit as well as the Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT) unit.

Ogbebor also disclosed that the corps patrol vehicles would be strategically located around the city to forestall any circumstances.

“Though we are not expecting any form of security challenge, but there is need for us to plan adequately to ensure the ceremony goes and ends well,” he said.

NAN reports that Eheneden Erediauwa will become the 39th Oba of Benin after the completion of all coronation rites on Thursday.

Comments

Court grants Fani-Kayode N50m bail

Fani-kayode sandwiched by EFCC officials Justice James Tsoho of the Federal High Court Abuja on Thursday granted a N50m bail to former spokesman of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode. Fani-Kayode was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N26m. Fani-Kayode is the sole defendant in the fresh charges numbered, FHC/ABJ/CR/140/2016. The EFCC accused the defendant of diverting 26 million Naira allegedly received from the ONSA while Sambo Dasuki was in office. The anti-graft agency also accused him of handling the said N26 million without going through financial institution as required under the Money Laundering Act. The embattled former minister is already facing 17-count charge of money laundering before the Lagos Division of the court, along with a former Finance Minister; Nenadi Usman, Danjuma Yusuf and a firm; Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited. They were charg

FG berates US congressman over comment

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture Photo: Femi Ipaye/PM News The Federal Government has described as sadly out of tune with reality the published letter from US Congressman Tom Marino to Secretary of State John Kerry, asking the US to withhold security assistance to Nigeria on the strength of some imaginary infraction by the Buhari Administration. In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said Congressman Marino was poorly informed about the issues he commented on, wondering why he did not take the pains to get first hand information from the US Embassy in Nigeria or any other credible source before engaging in what is nothing but a ‘propaganda of his own imagination’. The Minister said by asking the US to refrain from selling warplanes and other military equipment to Nigeria based on a faulty premise, the Congressman has demonstrated a poor understanding of global security issues. ”Insecurity anywhere i

Aubameyang leads Gabon to Nations Cup

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leads the cast for Gabon as the hosts became the first team to name their final 2017 Africa Cup of Nations squad. The team captain and Borussia Dortmund star will lead the home players out for the opening game of the tournament against debutants Guinea-Bissau on 14 January in Libreville. Gabon have also named Sunderland midfielder Didier Ndong despite the player being left out of November’s World Cup qualifier in Mali. Ndong was in the capital city Libreville but failed to turn up for international duty ahead of the Mali game last month, forcing the Gabonese Football Federation [Fegafoot] to send him back to England. But a remorseful Ndong, who held clear-the-air talks with Fegafoot has been included in a 23-man Panthers squad. Other names to make the final party include Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina, Bruno Ecuélé Manga of Cardiff City and China-based striker Malick Evouna. Gabon coach José Antonio Camacho included three do

Global Naija Info

Search This Blog