The Nigeria Police Force has ordered all its specialised units, including the Counter Terrorism Unit, Special Protection Unit, Federal Highway Patrol and Explosive Ordinance Department to beef up security at worship centres nationwide.
It has also commenced covert operations, round-the-clock surveillance, and vehicular patrols around public places and facilities to counter any terror attacks.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the police had put in place enhanced security strategies to ensure hitch-free New Year celebrations.
He added that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, had directed all assistant inspectors-general of police and commissioners of police in all zonal and state commands of the Force to retool their security infrastructure to meet the challenge of the times.
Mba said, “Attention will be paid to strategic public places, including places of worship, recreation centres, shopping malls, business plazas, motor parks, strategic highways, government installations and other important locations so as to forestall any possible criminal activity and guarantee the safety of the citizenry.”
Checks by NE in some states and the Federal Capital Territory revealed various measures put in place to ensure security.
In the FCT, the Police Public Relations Officer, Altienne Daniel, said the command had commenced the patrol of all public places, including worship centres to ensure crime-free celebrations by Abuja residents.
She stated that the FCT recorded no crime during the Christmas celebration, adding that the feat would be maintained in the New Year.
The Ondo State Police Command told one of our correspondents that 2,300 policemen were deployed across the state to forestall security breaches.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Wole Ogodo, said, “We have our strategy and that is working. We have deployed over 2,300 personnel across the state to ensure nothing serious happens. I can assure you that we are succeeding and we hope that it will remain so until the end of the celebrations.”
Similarly, the Enugu State Police command said through its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, “We have a strategy and keep working on it so as not to be caught unawares.
“That also goes to our police officers who the command keeps training and retraining and are usually stationed in strategic roads to help forestall likely attacks,” he said
The Akwa Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Etim Dickson, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the police had stepped up security by banning masquerade displays.
The finding in Cross River State was not different. Ahead of the New Year celebration, security agencies in Cross River State have been placed on red alert.
The State Security Adviser, Mr. Rekpene Bassey, stated on Friday that a combined team of all security agencies had been mandated to guard specific areas.
“Deliberate efforts have been made by placing all security agencies on red alert,” he said.
Other states surveyed by reporters included Plateau, Osun and Ogun.
While the Special Task Force on security in Jos said through its spokesman, Capt. Salisu Mustapha, on Friday, that apart from the usual roadblocks, all churches would be secured by combined officers of the police, army, Air Force, Navy and members of the civil defence; the Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Ayo Olowe, said, “Osun State is peaceful but we are not relenting. Our men are on ground in all the councils to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order in the festive season and beyond.”
And for the Ogun State Police Command, no street carnival would take place without police permission. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said other security agencies in the state would also be involved in the execution of the order.
Adejobi, a deputy superintendent of police, said each of the security agencies in the state had been assigned roles in the execution of the order so as to ensure effective “policing” during the festive period.
Kaduna, Kwara, and Anambra were also in the list of states monitored.
The Kaduna State Police Command said it was ready for any eventuality and warned criminals planning to use the New Year festival as launch-pad to cause trouble to have a rethink.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Aminu Lawan, a DSP, told one of our correspondents on Friday that to ensure effective policing during the celebration, the state had been divided into three sections.
In Kwara, both the Army and the Police painted graphic picture of tight security situation. The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 22 Armoured Brigade, Nigerian Army, Sobi Barracks, Ilorin, Kwara State, Mr. Augustine Bello, said the army was ready to ensure security, crime and violence-free festivities; Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olufemi Fabode, said the police had adopted some innovative security strategies.
Anambra and Bayelsa, are not left out in the security tightening. The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gwary Usman, said the strategies the command adopted since the festive season began would be sustained, ruling out terror attacks and kidnapping.
Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Alex Akhigbe said, “Our men have been stationed at strategic positions in the state such as leisure parks, to ensure that there is no incident of crime during the new year celebration.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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