Abdullahi Gana, the Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has said that 5,000 of its personnel has been deployed to work in the North-East.

This is contained in a statement issued by Emmanuel Okeh, NSCDC’s spokesperson and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

The statement said Gana made the disclosure while responding to comments made by Gov. Kashim Shettima on the need to replace officers and men of the corps, who lost their lives on various assignments in the North-East.

The governor was in Abuja on a courtesy visit to the Commandant-General.

Gana explained that the deployment was delayed due to paucity of funds.

He thanked the governor and the people of the state for their resilience despite the security challenges they faced.

He said: “Your Excellency, I must commend you for doing a great job in rebuilding the state after the insurgency.

“Your care and love for the good people of Borno is indeed worthy of note and emulation.

“Only the Almighty God alone can adequately reward you for the work you are doing to make life worthwhile and meaningful for your people again.

“The trauma suffered by your people has in no doubt affected them psychologically, economically and in different aspects of their lives and a lot still needs to be done.”

Gana assured the governor and the people of the state that they were not alone, adding that the NSCDC was always a dependable ally in their time of need.

He also thanked the Minister of Interior, Dr Bello Dambazzau, for presenting the request for employment of more NSCDC personnel to President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said that the corps was still awaiting the approval on the number to be recruited. (NAN)

•Photo shows NSCDC Commandant-General, Abdullahi Gana.