SECURITY has again been stepped up at the nation’s seaports,
airports and borders barely 72 hours to the New Year celebration as part of
measures put in place to checkmate the activities of the Boko Haram sect.
The US government had earlier in the week issued a warning to its citizens in Nigeria especially, during the Yuletide celebration.
Findings by Saturday Tribune revealed that apart from the regular security personnel at the ports, armed soldiers have been deployed as back-up, while human and vehicular movements are being monitored.
It was also learnt that worship centres, public institutions, recreation centres, hotels, major streets, especially in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maiduguri, Jos, Kano, Sokoto, Lagos, Kaduna, Ibadan and others are also under watch by combined team of security forces.
A very senior police officer, who spoke with Saturday Tribune in confidence in Abuja on Friday, said that the security arrangement would be in place till further notice as a result of unfavourable security reports in some parts of the country.
Army spokesman, Major General Mobolaji Koleoso, told newsmen that all security agencies have been put on 24-hour surveillance.
General Koleoso said that more successes are being recorded through the mounting of roadblocks and stop and search operations as many arms and ammunition have been recovered and suspects arrested.
He said that Nigerians should appreciate what the security agencies are doing even though it is causing delays on the highways, but it is for the interest of Nigerians.
On when the roadblocks will be removed, General Koleoso simply answered, “When the president directs.”
However, informed military source told Saturday Tribune that officers and men of the armed forces were not granted pass to travel during the Christmas and the New Year.
According to the source, the signal released by the Defence Headquarters directed all officers and soldiers to remain on their duty posts during the Yuletide.
On the retirement of the 36 generals and 15 colonels, the army spokesman made it clear that the terms and conditions of service of the army stipulate that at the age of 56 years as a Major General, “You must prepare to go home”.
Meanwhile, as traffic congestion continues around the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and its environs following security beef-up, airlines have continued to count their losses.
The security beef-up on Friday reached its peak with scores of passengers, including international and domestic passengers, going through harrowing experiences following traffic gridlock on all roads leading to the airport.
As early as 7.00am on Friday morning, many passengers, who had left their homes to catch the first flights, ended up missing their flights while others decided to trek to the airport.
Many of the passengers were full of condemnation for the security situation, which they said was not well-arranged.
The traffic situation, which made so many passengers miss their flights, however, has subsequent consequence on the airline operators who were forced to either delay their flights or reschedule them to accommodate passengers held up in the traffic.
An airline chief who spoke under anonymity said the new security status had made flight operations more expensive as they have to adjust their logistics in consideration of the passengers.
The US government had earlier in the week issued a warning to its citizens in Nigeria especially, during the Yuletide celebration.
Findings by Saturday Tribune revealed that apart from the regular security personnel at the ports, armed soldiers have been deployed as back-up, while human and vehicular movements are being monitored.
It was also learnt that worship centres, public institutions, recreation centres, hotels, major streets, especially in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maiduguri, Jos, Kano, Sokoto, Lagos, Kaduna, Ibadan and others are also under watch by combined team of security forces.
A very senior police officer, who spoke with Saturday Tribune in confidence in Abuja on Friday, said that the security arrangement would be in place till further notice as a result of unfavourable security reports in some parts of the country.
Army spokesman, Major General Mobolaji Koleoso, told newsmen that all security agencies have been put on 24-hour surveillance.
General Koleoso said that more successes are being recorded through the mounting of roadblocks and stop and search operations as many arms and ammunition have been recovered and suspects arrested.
He said that Nigerians should appreciate what the security agencies are doing even though it is causing delays on the highways, but it is for the interest of Nigerians.
On when the roadblocks will be removed, General Koleoso simply answered, “When the president directs.”
However, informed military source told Saturday Tribune that officers and men of the armed forces were not granted pass to travel during the Christmas and the New Year.
According to the source, the signal released by the Defence Headquarters directed all officers and soldiers to remain on their duty posts during the Yuletide.
On the retirement of the 36 generals and 15 colonels, the army spokesman made it clear that the terms and conditions of service of the army stipulate that at the age of 56 years as a Major General, “You must prepare to go home”.
Meanwhile, as traffic congestion continues around the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and its environs following security beef-up, airlines have continued to count their losses.
The security beef-up on Friday reached its peak with scores of passengers, including international and domestic passengers, going through harrowing experiences following traffic gridlock on all roads leading to the airport.
As early as 7.00am on Friday morning, many passengers, who had left their homes to catch the first flights, ended up missing their flights while others decided to trek to the airport.
Many of the passengers were full of condemnation for the security situation, which they said was not well-arranged.
The traffic situation, which made so many passengers miss their flights, however, has subsequent consequence on the airline operators who were forced to either delay their flights or reschedule them to accommodate passengers held up in the traffic.
An airline chief who spoke under anonymity said the new security status had made flight operations more expensive as they have to adjust their logistics in consideration of the passengers.
Tribune
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