Eid-el-Kabir: Police beef up security for Sallah

Inspector- General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered security beef up in all strategic and vulnerable areas nationwide to achieve an incident-free Sallah.

The IG in a signal on Saturday to Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in-charge of zones and Commissioners of Police directed that policemen must be visible in all the key areas.

The commanders in-charge of the Police Special Forces,  including the Air Wing, the Maritime Command, the Counter -Terrorism Unit and the Border Patrol Units were directed to ensure “purposeful and strategic deployment of their personnel and logistics to check all criminal threats”.

Also, a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, in Abuja on Sunday said that the CPs had been directed to adequately protect all essential infrastructure and vulnerable points, including highways, motor parks, places of worship, shopping malls and recreational centres.

The statement added that commanders of Police Mobile Force Squadrons were also urged to ensure that their respective Quick Reactionary Units remained on high alert throughout the holiday period.

The IG reminded operational commanders that though the nation was on holiday, policemen  should not be on vacation and that all commanders were expected to remain at their duty posts throughout the Sallah period.

The statement added, “Officers and men deployed for the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations have been enjoined to conduct themselves in a most professional manner, in line with the Force Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics and other extant laws regulating the rules of engagement.

The IG charged them to be mindful of the fundamental rights of the citizens, while discharging their responsibilities.”

Abubakar sought the cooperation of all Nigerians in the ongoing transformation of the Nigeria Police and pledged the loyalty of the Force to the nation.

Meanwhile, the Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing, Lands and Urban Development, Gbenga Ashafa, has urged Muslims to pray for Nigeria to regain its lost pride during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

In his Sallah message, Ashafa enjoined  Muslims to use this year’s celebration as opportunity to reflect on their spiritual lives, pray for themselves and the nation at large.

“This period reminds us to be faithful to the Almighty God and live according to His dictates, especially in our world that has been seriously wounded by various vices of all kinds. It also reminds us that we all (both Muslims and Christians) should fervently pray for our nation at this trying time so that Nigeria will regain its pride of place among other nations of the world” he said.