DSS alert: Military, police deploy teams in prayer grounds

In a move to ensure hitch-free Sallah celebrations nationwide, the security forces have deployed operatives in Eid prayer grounds, recreation centres, and fun spots across the country.

 Additionally, the military has placed troops at operation theatres on red alert just as the acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has dispatched thousands of police personnel at strategic points ahead of today’s celebrations.

The deployment came five days after the Department of State Services raised the alarm over an alleged plot by suspected terrorists to attack worship and religious centres during the Eid festivities.

The spokesperson for the Service, Peter Afunanya, had in a statement said the recovery of improvised explosive devices from terrorists in joint operations by the DSS, Nigerian Army and Police laid credence to the planned attack.

He, therefore, urged members of the public, including operators of malls among other public places, to be vigilant and not hesitate to report any suspicious movement to security agencies.

Speaking with Newsmen on the measures being taken to curtail the reported threat in an interview on Tuesday, the Director of the Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, assured that troops were ever ready to contain any menace to national security.

“Our troops at various theatres of operations are on the alert to curb any security threat,’’ he simply stated.

In a related manner, the IG said he had directed zonal assistant inspectors- general of police and commissioners of police to deploy personnel and equipment to ensure adequate security throughout the Eid-el-Kabir celebration period.

 In a statement on Tuesday by the Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, Egbetokun also ordered them to carry out patrols on major highways, flash points, worship, and relaxation centres, among others.

The statement read, “The IGP particularly directed the Zonal AIGs and state command CPs to deploy human and other operational assets to carry out confidence building and crime prevention patrols on major highways, residential and industrial areas, vulnerable points, places of worship, other places of public resort and around all critical national infrastructure devoid of harassment and extortion.

“The Inspector-General of Police, while congratulating the Muslim faithful in the country on the occasion of the year 2023 Eid-el-Kabir celebration, restated that the force would harness all available assets including relevant groups, associations, sectors, and synergise with other security agencies to boost its service delivery and stabilise general security within the nation.”

He, however, warned the personnel deployed for various assignments during the celebration to be disciplined, professional and respect the fundamental rights of the citizens.

In a statement on Tuesday, the command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh disclosed that the police would also conduct stop and search operations, aggressive vehicle and foot patrol as well as raids on dark spots across the FCT.

It read, “The FCT Police Command in preparation for a hitch-free Eid-El-Kabir celebration has re-appraised the security dispositions and deployed adequate human and material resources across the nooks and crannies of the Federal Capital Territory.

“The deployment which comprises all tactical and intelligence machinery of the Command anchored by interagency cooperation is distinguished by strengthened visibility policing at all praying grounds and places of social gatherings, stop and search duty, raids on black spots and uncompleted buildings, highway and border patrol, aggressive vehicle and foot patrol, surveillance and diversion points around praying grounds, which includes: Dantata Bridge and Shema filling station.”

She added that the Commissioner of Police charged all the officers to ensure no detail is overlooked as they discharge their duties in compliance with the Standard Operating Procedures.

Adeh called for vigilance and urged residents to make the best use of the police control room numbers in reporting suspicious activities.

On its part, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has deployed 40,000 personnel to provide security across the country ahead of the Eid celebrations.

This was contained in a statement by the NSCDC Director of Public Relations, Olusola Odumosu, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Odumosu disclosed that the NSCDC Commandant-General, Ahmed Audi ordered the personnel to ensure proper protection of critical national assets and infrastructure in joint operations with other security agencies.

As part of security strategies for the Eid celebrations, the Borno State Police Command has announced the restriction of vehicular movement between 7 am and 12 pm on Wednesday (today).

The restriction applied to motor vehicles, tricycles, and bicycles except for those on essential duties.

This was disclosed on Tuesday by the acting commissioner of police who is the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, Borno State Police Command, Haruna Yahaya.

In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sani Shatambaya, Yahaya asked the Muslim faithful to pray at Eid prayer grounds close to their homes, advising that they should go early for security screening.

The statement read, “This arrangement will cover all the praying grounds, malls, and recreation centres where large numbers of people are expected to gather. To this end, high visibility patrols/stop and search, and intelligence/information gathering will be intensified within this period and beyond.

However, the state command of the NSCDC said it has deployed no fewer than 2,500 armed personnel to provide security during the festivities.

The Public Relations officer of the command, DSC Ibrahim Abdullahi told Newsmen that the personnel would be posted to strategic locations, including the Eid praying grounds, recreation facilities, and other fun spots within and outside the metropolis.

He called on residents to support the security agencies with reliable and credible information.

In Lagos State, Ahead of the Eid-el-Fitr celebration in the state on Wednesday, the  state Commissioner of Police, CP Idowu Owohunwa, has directed all Area Commanders, DPOs, Tactical Commanders and Intelligence Officers to” review their deployment of human and operational resources especially at identified strategic and vulnerable points across the state to forestall any breakdown of security; while deployed officers have been charged to remain professional, courteous but firm in the discharge of their duties.”