IG directs AIGs, CPs to provide water-tight security during Yuletide
The Nigeria Police is taking stringent measures to provide security during the Christmas period.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, on Sunday, directed all the specialised units of the police to join forces with the conventional police in providing water-tight security during the Christmas.
According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, in Abuja on Sunday, the inspector-general also directed the assistant inspectors-general of police in charge of the 12 zonal police commands and commissioners of police in charge of the 36 states to reorganise their security infrastructure.
The specialised units of the police include the Police Mobile Force (Mopol), Counter Terrorism Unit, Special Protection Unit, Federal Highway Patrol and Explosive Ordinance Department.
Mba said in the statement that the inspector-general enjoined the officers to restructure their security infrastructure in line with their local environment and peculiar security situation, so as to adequately protect the citizenry during the period.
'Covert operations, round-the-clock surveillance and robust vehicular patrols are being intensified, while particular attention is now constantly paid to strategic public places,'' it said.
Special attention, the statement disclosed, was being paid to places like worship and recreation centres, shopping malls, motor parks, strategic highways and government installations, in order to forestall criminal activity and guarantee security.
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The force spokesman said that Abubakar, however, urged Christians to continue to observe the teachings of Jesus Christ by propagating peace, demonstrating love and forgiveness, while promoting harmonious coexistence with others, irrespective of their religious, ethnic or political leanings.
The statement said that the inspector-general thanked all Nigerians for their understanding and renewed cooperation with the police in 2013, pledging better service delivery of the police in the years ahead.
The IG also called on the citizens to strengthen their partnership with the police and other security agencies, by providing useful information that would aid efforts to curb crime and criminality in the society.
Meanwhile, the Police Command in Edo State said on Sunday that its officers and men would intensify surveillance of identified flashpoints in the state during the Christmas and New Year festivities.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the command, DSP Moses Eguavoen, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government of Edo.
Eguavoen said that the command had mobilised all area commands and divisions for effective policing duty during the Yuletide.
“Every policeman in Edo State is involved; as I speak with you, an operation order has been drawn to that effect; every policeman has been assigned to his duty post.
“The Commissioner of Police has handed down his directives to every policeman in the command; that all policemen would be on duty during the period.''
Eguavoen urged members of the public to report strange movements, suspected persons and unauthorised gathering to the police.
“We acknowledge the period we are in and we are ready, ever more than before, to ensure a peaceful, a safe and joyous Christmas and New Year celebrations.
“Members of the public can avail us with useful information that will assist the police in deploying proactive measures against crime and criminality.''
The police spokesman assured the people of adequate security and peaceful celebrations in the state.
“You know police works 24 hours; we walk round the clock; we are never at rest; our presence is everywhere.
“I assure the public again, that police will be everywhere throughout the celebrations,'' he said.