The security forces have placed operatives in Eid prayer locations, recreation centers, and entertainment areas all around the nation in an effort to ensure trouble-free Sallah celebrations for everyone.
As the acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, dispatched thousands of police officers to key locations in advance of today’s celebrations, the military also put troops at operational theaters on red alert.
The deployment took place five days after the Department of State Services issued a warning over a rumored terrorist plot to assault places of worship and religious institutions during the Eid celebrations.
In a statement, the Service’s spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, said that evidence of the intended assault came from the discovery of improvised explosive devices from terrorists during combined operations by the DSS, Nigerian Army, and Police.
Therefore, he asked members of the public, including managers of malls and other public spaces, to exercise caution and not delay in alerting security agencies to any suspicious activity.
Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, director of army public relations, assured that soldiers were always prepared to contain any threat to national security in an interview with The Spectator on Tuesday regarding the steps being taken to reduce the alleged threat.
He only said, “Our forces in different theaters of operations are on alert to curb any security threat.
In a similar vein, the IG claimed that he had given zonal assistant inspectors general of police and commissioners of police instructions to deploy personnel and equipment to guarantee adequate security throughout the Eid-el-Kabir celebration period.
Egbetokun also gave them the order to police key thoroughfares, flash points, places of worship, and relaxation areas, among other places, according to a statement released on Tuesday by the Force’s spokeswoman, Muyiwa Adejobi.
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 stabilize general security within the nation.”
However, he issued a warning to the staff members assigned to various tasks during the celebration, advising them to maintain order, act professionally, and protect the residents’ basic rights.
Tinubu arrives
At the State House in Ikoyi, Lagos, President Bola Tinubu will observe the Eid.
The President will join other Muslim believers in celebrating Eid-el-Kabir today after arriving in Lagos on Tuesday after trips to Paris and London on official and personal business, respectively.
Movement into the area was restricted, according to our journalist, who visited the State House on Tuesday. This is where the President will observe the Eid prayer.
The location is situated on Ribadu Road in Lagos’ Ikoyi neighborhood, behind Dodan Barracks.
On Tuesday, our correspondent tried unsuccessfully to enter the Mosque because one of the officials—who declined to give his name—said that only reporters authorized to cover the State House would be permitted entry.
In line with the IG’s directive, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command said it has deployed “tactical and intelligence machinery in prayer grounds and recreation centers across the territory.’’
In order to secure the security of locals during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, the command further stated that it has assessed the security architecture of the region.
The command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, revealed in a statement on Tuesday that the police would also carry out stop-and-search operations, vigorous foot and vehicle patrols, as well as raids on dark locations around 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.”
As they carry out their duties in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures, all the officers have been charged by the Commissioner of Police, she continued.
Adeh asked citizens to exercise caution and to report any suspicious activity by calling the police control room numbers.
In preparation for the Eid celebrations, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has sent out 40,000 personnel to ensure security across the nation.
This was said in a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja by Olusola Odumosu, the director of public relations for the NSCDC.
In cooperative operations with other security agencies, Odumosu revealed that Ahmed Audi, the NSCDC Commandant-General, had instructed the staff to ensure effective protection of vital infrastructure and national assets.
The CG also instructed them to staff sensitive locations such as vehicle parks, marketplaces, retail centers, houses of worship, and other leisure facilities.
”To avoid unpleasant shocks from adversaries of the country,” he admonished the leaders of formations.
We won’t take any chances, so you must be at the top of your game, extremely watchful, and highly sensitive to your surroundings, he warned.
He also advised the commands to take initiative in order to get better results.
“An intelligent-driven approach must be adopted to nip crimes in the bud; be proactive and make sure you engage intelligence-driven strategies.
“This will help to get credible information about the intended plans of criminal elements so that we can crush them before they strike,” Audi said.
The zonal commanders were further admonished by the CG to appropriately coordinate the forces that were under their purview.
He stated, “All Special Forces of the Corps must be fully engaged during the Sallah celebrations to guarantee the safety of lives of our people.
“I will hold zonal commanders responsible and state commandants accountable for any breach of peace in any state.’’
