…FALAE, TSAV, ABAYOMI, OTHERS REACT
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has ordered the Police and other security agencies to immediately put in place stop and search points as well as road blocks to check every moving vehicle in and around Abuja.
Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Dr. Biodun Nathaniel Olorunfemi, while condemning the blast also appealed for calm to allow the security agents carry out detailed investigation to unravel the perpetrators of the act.
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae in a telephone interview, said the police as organ should be restructured to meet the modern day challenge of combating criminal tendencies.
The elder statesman was of the opinion that President Goodluck Jonathan must brace up and address the issue of insecurity that had pervaded some parts of the country. 'The President must find a lasting solution to this reign of terror and violence in Nigeria. If he is not able to do so there can be no basis for any development or progress in the country.
'The most pressing issue now is how Mr. President will find a lasting solution to this insecurity problem. As long as such violence continues, there is no future for this country.
'The Nigeria police are part of the security agencies; it is their duty to prevent crime from happening which they have failed to address squarely. Government should be able to be able to curb this dangerous trend and ensure that those behind this dastardly act are brought to book.' Former Lagos State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav (retd) who described it as sad and unfortunate wondered where the Police Bomb Disposal Unit was at the time of the incident insisting that there must have been culpable neglect or collusion on the part of the police. Tsav who asked why the police did not search their headquarters properly also wondered if Boko Haram was responsible for the dastardly act.
'Many questions are begging for answers. Could it be an act of sabotage or revenge? Some section of the police are not happy with the IGP's pronouncement over the military killing of senior police officers in Lagos. Could it be Boko Haram on a revenge mission?' the retired police boss asked. He maintained that whatever it was, it is now clear that the police cannot provide security except there was a change of heart and commitment from officers and men of the police force.
Similarly, a human rights activist, Dr. Tunji Abayomi said the showed that there was no security in the country.
He added the incident affirmed that Nigeria police system as presently constituted was not modernised enough to meet the challenges of the present time. Abayomi, therefore, called for a decentralised police force that would be good enough to meet the challenges of security in this nation.
Also, a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Akindele Adeniyi said the incident had further shown that the country was not safe for ordinary citizens. The Progressive Leadership Organisation International (PLOI), described it as a serious indictment of the entire security organizations in the country. According to the national president of the PLOI, Comrade Emmanuel Ezeume: 'If we cannot ensure the security of the people, how could Nigerians expect foreign investors to risk their lives and come here to invest.
He urged the security agencies to live up to their responsibilities.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Police Affairs in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary, James Odaudu has called on the public to cooperate with security agencies as a duty by providing information on the activities of suspicious members of the society as the criminals live among the people and would have no hiding place if everybody takes interest in the activities of his neighbour.
Abah wondered what anybody stood to gain with such a dastardly attack on the nation's security organ other than embarrassing the government of the day. Nobody, according to him, has the right to threaten the life of another person or the corporate security of Nigeria under whatever guise.