The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has deployed operatives in all prayer grounds nationwide as part of security measures for the Eid-el-Fitri celebration.
The IG said he had directed Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police in charge of zones and state commands to beef up security and ensure massive deployment of personnel in all Eid prayer grounds and other venues of celebration nationwide.
The force spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, noted that the operation would cover recreation centres, public places and critical infrastructure and public utilities.
It added that the federal highway and anti-crime patrol teams had been dispatched to major roads and highways to ensure the safety of travellers, commuters and other road users, noting that they were under strict instruction to be civil, polite and firm while carrying out their duties.
“Police visibility patrols and surveillance will be maintained, raiding of criminal hideouts, black spots currently ongoing throughout the country aimed at removing criminal elements from the society will be sustained all through the period of the Eld-el-Fitr celebration and beyond,” the statement explained.
It further said that special police deployments would be made to flash/vulnerable points.
Consequently, police formation across the states of the federation have started beefing up security in order to have a peaceful sallah.
In Lagos, the state Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, has ordered the state police command to provide adequate protection for Lagosians during and beyond the Sallah holiday.
This was confirmed in a statement released on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Chike Oti.
He said, “The Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, has ordered all police formations under the command to embark on a Show of Force. The exercise will commence tomorrow, June 14, 2018, (today) from 6 am through 4 pm across the state.
“The operation is to assure Lagosians of the readiness of the command to provide adequate security for the inhabitants of the state throughout the Sallah holiday and beyond.”
Oti said the exercise was established to caution criminal individuals of the police preparedness to combat evil and anti-social acts capable of disturbing the peace and orderliness of state during the celebration.
He also expressed that the police had partnered other agencies to achieve the purpose, and urged Lagosians not to panic when they see armed policemen on the streets.
In Borno State, over 5,000 policemen will be deployed during the Eid-El—Fitr celebration in the state to check any security breach, the police have said on Wednesday.
Briefing journalists, the Borno Police Commissioner, Damian Chukwu, said recent suicide attacks on Maiduguri called for the action.
He said the police and other security operatives including the military had no choice but to beef up security, noting that vehicular movement would be restricted a few hours before and after the Eid prayer to ensure security during the festival.
He said, “This year’s Sallah celebration is expected to come up on June 15, 2018. Security arrangements, including the deployment of over 5,000 policemen have been put in place to ensure hitch-free Sallah celebration.”
He asked Muslim faithful to cooperate with the security forces deployed in the various praying grounds for their protection.
He also called on them to arrive early at their respective praying grounds for security screening to avoid the stampede that eleventh-hour rush was associated with.
Meanwhile, the Bauchi State Police Command will deploy 2,992 officers and men to secure lives and property during the Eid-el Fitri celebrations in the state.
The officers and men will comprise conventional police, Police Mobile Force, Counter-Terrorist Unit, Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel, intelligence personnel, medical personnel and other operatives of the command.
Source: Punch
