Eid-El-Fitri: IGP Orders Water-tight Security Round The Nation

The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali Baba, Wednesday, ordered a tight security ahead of the 2021 Eid-el-Fitr celebration to mark the end of the Ramadan fast, and beyond.

Specifically, Baba ordered nationwide deployment of police officers and other operational assets of the Force for water-tight security round the country. Although security beef-up is not unusual during national celebrations as this, the Police High Command said the current measure is for a safer Nigeria,especially in the face of the ever-rising security challenges in the country

The IGP’s order, according to a release by Frank Mba, a Commissioner of Police and the Force Public Relations Officer, was contained in a directive to Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), Commissioners of Police (CPs) and other strategic commanders of the Force as part of efforts by the Police leadership toward stabilizing security, improving public safety and making the country a safer place for all citizens.

According to Mba,though the IGP admitted that “the nation’s security ecosystem is challenged,” he assured that the “challenges are not insurmountable.”

Baba, continued Mba, reassured Nigerians that “the Force, under his new policing vision, is already implementing new, improved, tailored-to-suit and robust security solutions aimed at tackling crimes and neutralizing both existing and emerging security threats in the country.”

While restating his belief that the nation will soon overcome its security challenges, the IGP further noted that the Force is equally up-scaling its collaboration with the military and other law enforcement agencies in both intelligence sharing and other target-oriented missions and operations. Baba enjoined citizens to support the Police to stage a common front in tackling the challenges.

Baba also reminded the citizens of the newly introduced Phase-4 National Response on COVID-19 Health Protection Regulation and called for strict compliance with the protocols, as enunciated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.

Similarly, the IGP directed Commissioners of Police in all the states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ensure full enforcement of the anti-COVID-19 protocols. He, however, warned that Police officers deployed for such enforcement must do so with utmost professionalism, while exhibiting compassion, decorum and due respect for the fundamental rights of the citizens.

Meanwhile, the IGP, on behalf of the entire officers of the Nigeria Police Force, congratulated all Muslim faithful in the country as they join the Muslim Ummah across the globe to mark this year’s Eid-el-Fitr. He urged them to internalize the virtues and teachings of Ramadan in their day-to-day endeavours and admonished all Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of obedience to the laws of the land and the pursuit of common good.