Yuletide: IG Orders Increased Security Nationwide

General of Police (IG) Mohammed Abubakar

As part of efforts aimed at ensuring a peaceful and incident-free Christmas celebration, the Inspector General of Police (IG) Mohammed Abubakar has directed all Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and State Command Commissioners of Police (CPs) to take all necessary measures to provide adequate security across the country before, during and after the yuletide season.

This is just as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced the death of the AIG in charge of Zone 6 in Calabar, Mr. Muktari Ibrahim, who passed away after a brief illness at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, last Saturday.

In a statement signed by the force spokesperson, Frank Mba, a chief superintendent of police, the police commissioners had been mandated to personally ensure that key and vulnerable locations, including shopping malls, motor parks, financial houses, places of worship, recreation centres and other public places, are adequately and effectively protected, to enable holiday makers, worshipers and the general public enjoy their holiday.

He said the zonal AIGs and CPs have also been directed to provide 24 hours security around all government installations, strategic facilities and other key targets.

In addition, Commanders of Police Highway Patrol Teams have been directed to ensure that motorised patrols on the highways targeted at crime and accident prevention are intensified.

“Policemen deployed on our highways have also been directed to render necessary assistance to travellers and road users, especially accident victims and those who may suffer vehicular breakdown,” the statement read in part. 

The IG warned officers, who will be deployed during the period, to ensure that they comport themselves and act within the confines of the law.
“They must be firm but polite, civil and professional in the discharge of their assigned roles, giving due regard and respect to the fundamental human rights of citizens at all times,” the IG ordered.

In the spirit of the season, the IG expressed his gratitude to Nigerians for their cooperation, patience and understanding all through 2012, particularly in the face of daunting national security challenges.
The police boss equally paid tribute to all officers and men of the NPF for their dedication, tireless courage and selfless service to the fatherland and humanity.

He restated his resolve and commitment to reposition the force, bargain for a better welfare package and a more humane and conducive working condition for police personnel.
He also commiserated with families of patriotic members of the force who, like the heroes they truly are, paid the supreme price in the outgoing year, to ensure that Nigerians enjoyed peace and security.

In the same vein, the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade, has promised Nigerians that the Nigerian police are capable of providing adequate security nationwide in spite of the determination of some disgruntled and misguided elements to cause chaos.

According to a press release signed by the Minister's spokesperson, James Odaudu, yesterday, Olubolade said all police formations nationwide had been put on red alert to prevent people with evil machinations from achieving their aims, noting that the various training programmes embarked upon by the police in areas such as counter-terrorism, intelligence gathering and community policing have started yielding positive results as shown in the appreciable reduction in terrorist activities.

The minister also warned all those with evil intentions during the festive season to retrace their steps, as no effort would be spared in fishing out both perpetrators and sponsors, no matter their positions in the society.

He described Saturday’s attack on some telecommunications facilities in Kano by suicide bombers as an attempt to cause panic among Nigerians in the wake of the festive period and urged all Christians and non-Christians to use the Christmas celebrations to pray for God's intervention in the affairs of the nation and to also make a personal commitment to the restoration of national peace and security, without which no meaningful development can be achieved.