Easter: IGP Deploys Security To Churches …As US,UK Warn Citizens To Steer Clear of Nigeria

The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has directed Zonal and States Commands of the police to provide adequate security to all places of worship during the Easter celebrations.

The IGP gave the directive in a press statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Olusola Amore, yesterday in Abuja.

The statement said the IGP had directed Zonal Assistant Inspectors General and Police Commissioners in states to ensure proper coverage of all vulnerable points and highways during and after the period.

It commended Nigerians for cooperating with policemen posted to their various communities, and called for more support and understanding of the current security challenges.

The statement saluted the efforts of all policemen in the country for their tireless and selfless service to the nation.

“The administration of the force is committed to giving a new lease of life to the Nigerian Police and ensuring that its past glories are restored, as a highly dedicated, motivated and efficient police force,’’ it stated.

It urged Nigerians to avail the force with useful information to track down undesirable elements in the society.

It felicitated with Christians as they celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and urged them to embrace peace, forgiveness and harmonious co-existence with people of other religions.

The statement enjoined all peace-loving Nigerians to emulate the principles and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Sokoto State says it has deployed 700 personnel to churches to ensure peaceful Easter celebrations.

Alhaji Aminu Kofar Soro, the state Commandant of NSCDC, told our correspondent that anti-bomb disposal units had also been deployed to all places of worship in the state.

He said the command was working with other security agencies in the state to ensure peace during and after the religious festivities.

The commandant called on the people of the state to report any suspicious characters to the security agencies.

In a related development, citizens of the United Kingdom (U.K.) and the United States of America (U.S.) were yesterday warned against travelling to certain parts of Nigeria owing to “high risk” of a terrorist attack over the Easter holiday.

The advice came in Abuja in the updated travel warnings issued by the U.K. Foreign Office and the U.S. Embassy, which noted the penchant of the Boko Haram Islamist sect for synchronising its attacks with major celebrations.

The U.K., particularly, listed Borno, Niger, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto and Yobe states in the largely Muslim north as seven trouble spots that its citizens must avoid. “There is a high threat of terrorist attack during religious festivals,” the U.K. warning read.

The U.S. warning observed the now-commonplace attacks in the country and the “continued threats, including several that mention U.S. interests.” It also revealed that personnel from the U.S. Embassy had been forbidden from travelling to northern Nigeria since Boko Haram’s January 2012 attack in Kano, which killed a minimum of 185 people.

“The U.S. Embassy continues to monitor closely the ongoing threats posed by Nigerian extremist and criminal groups, and their stated intentions to carry out attacks against the Nigerian government and western interests and targets in Nigeria,” the statement further read.

Boko Haram has been masterminding series of bombings and shootings predominantly in Nigeria’s north since 2010, in its bid to enthrone Sharia Law nationwide despite the country’s multi-religious composition, as well as obliterate all forms of western education and orientation from the society. It is also demanding the unconditional release of its member detained by security agencies all over the country.

In the last week alone, it has orchestrated the killing of no less than 10 security personnel in vengeance of dozen others of its men who have been killed by state forces within the same time frame.