Emmanuel Onani 
As part of measures to guarantee fool-proof security during and after the yuletide, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Usman Baba, has ordered Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the 36 states of the federation, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), “to initiate and implement well-coordinated crime prevention strategies and ensure round-the-clock visibility patrols”.
Supervisory Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) across the zonal commands, are to ensure the full implemention of the directive.
The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CP Frank Mba, who conveyed the police chief’s order in a statement, Friday, said the Command CPs are expected to deploy human, intelligence and other operational assets, to achieve the objective.
“The IGP, who noted that achieving a crime and crisis free Yuletide is of utmost priority to the Force and the nation at large, being the build-up into a new year, assured citizens of adequate security throughout the period of the celebration and beyond,” the FPRO said.
The statement further reads: “He (IGP) further noted that the AIGs and CPs have been directed to massively deploy human, intelligence and other operational assets of the Force at their disposal to all public places including residential areas, places of worship, recreational centres, financial institutions, market places, motor-parks, major highways, airports, railway stations, amongst others, to protect the citizens and critical national infrastructure (CNI).
“In addition, the IGP has warned Police personnel deployed for duties during the yuletide season, particularly those deployed to secure the highways across the country, to desist from acts inimical to discipline and professionalism.
“The IGP equally enjoined citizens to cooperate with officers deployed for the assignments especially by being law abiding, noting that the Force remains sensitive to issues of rights violations, illegitimate use of force and has since deployed the Monitoring Unit, the X-Squad, and the Force Provost Unit on joint operation nationwide with a view to monitoring conducts of officers as citizens transit in and around the country during the festive season and holidays.”
