As
Nigerians prepare for the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the Police in
Gombe State on Thursday urged residents of the state to be on the lookout for
explosive devices that could be packaged in Christmas hampers as gifts for
people.
The warning was contained in a statement issued in Gombe by DSP.
Fwaje Atajiri, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state’s Police
Command.
He said that such bomb-laden parcels could then be dispatched to
unsuspecting members of the public as goodwill gifts.
“Members of the public should be wary of hamper gifts and
parcels as they could contain Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs),” he said.
Atajiri said that citizens should also take other precautionary
measures to ensure hitch-free Christmas and New Year celebrations.
He also told religious and community leaders to assist the
police with useful information to protect lives and property.
The PPRO said that religious leaders should “educate their
followers to avoid being poisoned.
“Motorists are also advised to obey traffic lights and all
regulations as unnecessary disobedience may be fatal.
“Motorists should endeavour to put security gadgets in their
vehicles to forestall theft,” he said, assuring that the command would ensure a
peaceful Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno
State has reaffirmed its commitment to provide security for the people of the
state.
JTF spokesman, Lt. Col. Saquir Musa, who gave the assurance
during a phone interview, said the JTF is determined to restore peace to Borno
State, stressing that the JTF will not relent in its efforts until peace and
order is restored to the state.
Maiduguri, the state capital, is witnessing mass exodus of
residents who are fleeing to the southern part of the country to celebrate the
Christmas and New Year as a result of the security challenges confronting the
state.
In Kano State, security agencies are putting measures in place
to ensure that water-tight security arrangements are in place in the ancient
city.
Heavy traffic was noticed along major streets like New Road
Luxury Park in Sabon Gari, the Naibawa and Ungwar Uku Motor Park, while
economic activities have increased around the city.
Speaking on the preparations by his men, Kano State Commissioner
of Police, Mr. Ibrahim K. Idris, told The Nation that arrangements have put in
place by security agencies to ensure a hitch-free Yuletide, and promised that
there was no cause for alarm.
He said: “There would be water-tight security deployment at
strategic locations, including places of worship, markets, motor parks, banks,
schools, hospitals and other public utilities, infrastructures and offices
during the Christmas period”, adding that the dusk to dawn ban on commercial
motorcyclists remain in place as part of the preventive measures.
Idris urged residents of Kano to be security conscious and give
maximum cooperation to security agencies, including the police and the Joint
Task Force (JTF), adding that the use of knock-outs and other fireworks are
prohibited, “parents and guardians are strictly warned to stop their children
from purchasing and using such items as anybody caught will be prosecuted in
the Court of Law.”
He urged the people to call the Command’s Control Room in case
of emergency, adding that the Public Complain Bureau under the office of the
Command’s Public Relations Department and National Human Right Desk are also accessible
for complaints on human right violation by the Police.
He gave the phone numbers for the Control Room to include:
08032419754, 08123821575, 08099831808 and 064977005, while that of the Public
Complain Bureau include 08066628450, 08031803555 and 08057959393.
Also, the Niger State Police Command has promised residents of
the state a hitch-free Yuletide celebration, as security surveillance and
patrol have been increased in all the local government areas of the state.
The state police command also declared that no officer or men of
the command will be given any pass or leave during this period to avert any
shortage of men.
Confirming this development, the Command Public Relation Officer
(PPRO), DSP Pius Edobor, promised that security will be provided around the
state, especially in all churches during the Christmas and New Year
celebrations.
He said that the Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Desire Diseye
Nsirim has warned troublemakers to desist from their dastardly acts or be
forced to face the consequence of their actions, adding that everybody should
be free to move around without fear because the police are on top of the
security situation in the state