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 bySUNDAY Metro 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, toldSUNDAY Metro 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 bySUNDAY Metro 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
bySUNDAY Metro.
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
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