MASSIVE SECURITY DEPLOYMENT FOR SALLAH
Tight Security at Eid Grounds, Recreation Centres in Kano, Abuja, Abeokuta
Show of Force, Movements Restrictions in Kaduna, Lagos 24-Hour Surveillance in Bauchi, Edo, Others
Security agencies in the country have stepped up measures to prevent terrorist attacks as Nigerian Muslims join their counterparts across the world to celebrate the Eid el-Kabir festivities tomorrow.
The security measures were taken days after the Nigeria police and the Department of Security Services (DSS) warned about threats of attacks by “insurgents” and “extremists” during the annual religious celebration.
The federal government has declared tomorrow and Tuesday as public holidays for the festival.
The security alert by police and DSS led to the postponement of gubernatorial election in Edo State, earlier scheduled for yesterday.
In a joint statement by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Don Awunah and Garba Abdullahi, for the police and the DSS respectively, the agencies noted that credible intelligence available to them had indicated plans by extremist elements to attack vulnerable communities and soft targets with high population during the Sallah celebrations between September, 12 and 13.
It explained that Edo was amongst the states being targeted for the attacks.
Checks by Daily Trust on Sunday yesterday showed that various security measures have been put in place by different security outfits across the country to nip any possible threat to lives during the Sallah period in the bud.
Some of the measures include massive deployment of personnel, movement restrictions, especially around prayer grounds and show of force, among others.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, in a statement on Friday, signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Awunah, ordered a massive deployment of police personnel throughout the country to ensure a hitch-free Sallah celebration.
He also directed the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of zonal commands and all the commissioners of police in the state commands to deploy adequate personnel to cover all the Eid el-Kabir praying grounds, recreation centres, public places, public infrastructures and utilities, and other points and venues where celebrations will take place.
LAGOS: In Lagos, the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, yesterday deployed armed personnel and patrol vans across various parts of the city in a show of force.
Led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Titilayo Kayode, accompanied by the Chief Superintendent of Police, Department of Operations, CSP Waheed Ayilara, the show kicked-off from the command headquarters in Ikeja at 8am and went to Ipaja, Abule-Egba, before going through the Abattoir in Agege.
JOS: Also, the show of force took place in Jos, put up by the “Operation Safe Haven,” a multi-security task force maintaining peace in the state and two local government areas in the neighbouring Bauchi State.
Spokesman of the task force, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, told Daily Trust on Sunday that security patrols would continue throughout the period of the Muslim festivities in all local government areas.
Earlier, the task force announced a restriction of movements for worshippers to Eid grounds, a decision reached after consultation with some Islamic clerics at a pre-Sallah security meeting.
It also agreed that all vehicles be parked 200 meters from all Eid grounds, and stressed that men and officers of the task force would be looking out for overloaded vehicles and reckless driving on Sallah day.
Also, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state said it had deployed 2,000 personnel for the Sallah celebrations.
A statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Naomi Daniel Cishak, said the commandant, Olasupo Solomon Adebayo, assured the general public that the corps and other security agencies had put in place, all necessary strategies to ensure a peaceful celebration.
KADUNA: The Kaduna State police command has, for over a week now, begun “Operation Stop and Search” in most parts of Kaduna, the state capital.
Residents observed an increase in the number of checkpoints and the deployment of more police personnel on the streets, while motorists are being questioned and vehicles searched.
Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that the operation was taking place at Gonin Gora and Nnamdi Azikiwe expressways, Patrick Yakowa bypass, Barnawa, Sabon Tasha, Malali and Kakuri, among others.
The state police public relations officer, ASP Usman Aliyu, however, explained that the operation was a routine exercise to prevent crime, especially in festive periods.
ABUJA: In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the police command has enhanced security ahead of the Eid el-Kabir celebration tomorrow.
Checks by Daily Trust on Sunday showed that armed policemen were stationed at strategic locations, including some motor parks, while several patrol vehicles were deployed at entry and exit points to the city, as well as other locations.
ABEOKUTA: In Abeokuta, Ogun State, the police yesterday alerted the public on threats of planned attacks at some Eid grounds across the state tomorrow.
The police, in a statement by the command’s public relations officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, hinted that there was intelligence report of the planned attacks in the state by a section of a transport union.
According to the statement, Oyeyemi stated that the command was aware of a clandestine plan by a group of people who had been holding a series of nocturnal meetings with the motive of unleashing violence on innocent citizens on Sallah day.
Oyeyemi warned that the police would not fold their arms while hoodlums and miscreants disturbed the peace and harassed law abiding citizens of the state.
MAIDUGURI: The 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maimalari Contoment, Maiduguri, yesterday urged residents of Borno State to be security conscious in order to maintain the peace so far restored in the state.
The acting spokesman of the Division, Major Salisu Mustapha, in a statement, reassured residents that the Army was committed to ensuring hitch-free Sallah celebrations across the state.
He advised religious leaders to sensitise their followers to remain law abiding and not to engage in acts that could disrupt the Sallah celebrations.
BENIN: In Edo State, the police said they had made adequate arrangements to protect lives and property of citizens during the Sallah festival.
The state command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Theodore Okafor, told Daily Trust on Sunday that area commanders and the Divisional Police Officers had been mandated to ensure that ample security patrol was carried out in their areas.
He said police personnel would be on 24 hours duty to forestall any breakdown of law and order during the celebration, adding that the entire highway across the state would be patrolled.
“All the prayer grounds in the state would be manned by our officers. Security check would also be carried out on everybody before entering the praying ground. Our presence alone would deter any insurrection of any kind,” he said.
MAKURDI: Also, ahead of the Sallah celebration in Benue State, security operatives have been deployed to every nook and cranny of the state.
It was gathered that operatives have positioned their personnel both in uniform and mufti at strategic locations to avert any breach of law and order.
Spokesman of the state police command, ASP Moses Yamu, said that as part of measures to ensure adequate security, more policemen had been deployed to motor parks, relaxation centres, churches and mosques, among others.
“We are proactive as much as possible, though we are not yet aware of any threat. We are not leaving any stone unturned,” he said.
LOKOJA: The Kogi State police command yesterday said it had stepped up surveillance across the state to ensure a hitchfree Eid el-Kabir celebration.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Chafe, told Daily Trust on Sunday that the command had deployed its men to strategic spots ahead of the festivities.
BAUCHI: In Bauchi State, the police command promised to ensure adequate security throughout Sallah celebrations in the state, just as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed 1,800 of its personnel to ensure adequate security.
The state commandant of the NSCDC, Raji Ibrahim, said the deployment was to ensure adequate protection of lives and property before, during and after the Eid-el Kabir Sallah celebrations in the state.
The state police commissioner, Halliru Gwandu, at a security stakeholders meeting in Bauchi said the command was prepared to deal with anyone that would want to breach the peace during the Sallah celebrations.
KANO: In Kano, the state police commissioner, Alhaji Rabiu Yusuf, said a series of meetings were held among security agencies to ensure the safety of lives and property during the Sallah festivities.
He said: “Adequate security personnel, serviceable vehicles and force animals would be deployed to various praying grounds, recreational centres, markets, entry and exit points of the state, as well as all other strategic places to ensure a hitch-free celebrations.”
The commissioner, in a statement signed by the command’s public relation officer, DSP Magaji Musa Majia, also said covert and overt operatives had been deployed to strategic places to maintain orderliness and peaceful celebration.
He urged worshippers to avoid taking unnecessary objects to the Eid el-Kabir praying grounds, while urging those patronizing recreational centres and other related places to be vigilant and report any suspicious objects or movements to the security agencies.
GUSAU: The police in Zamfara State have beefed up security across the state ahead of Eid el-Kabir celebration.
Armed security personnel were seen at some roundabouts and other major spots in Gusau ahead of tomorrow’s Sallah festivities.
The police command, according to its spokesman, DSP Muhammad Shehu, would enforce the existing ban on commercial motorcycle operations from 8pm to 6am.
In the same vein, the NSCDC said it had re-strategised its operations ahead of the Sallah festival.
The second in command of the corps, Mr Hassan Muhammad Sifawa, told Daily Trust on Sunday that they had deployed personnel to strategic places like Eid prayer grounds, motor parks and other places where vandals could use the opportunity of the celebrations to cause trouble.
Additional reports: Ronald Mutum, Richard P. Ngbokai & Taiwo Adeniyi (Abuja), Eugene Agha (Lagos), Andrew Agbese (Kaduna),Hir Joseph & Lami Sadiq (Jos), Kehinde Akinyemi (Abeokuta), Usman A. Bello (Benin), Hope Abah (Makurdi), Itodo Daniel Sule (Lokoja), Balarabe Alkassim (Bauchi), Yusha’u A. Ibrahim (Kano), Shehu Umar, (Gusau) & Ibrahim Sawab (Maiduguri)