Boko Haram: Fresh security beef-up in states

Against the backdrop of the arrest of two suspected Boko Haram members in Ondo State by security operatives recently, heavy security has been stepped up in other adjoining states, especially in the South-West.

The heightened security, Sunday Tribune learnt on Sunday, was aimed at arresting fleeing members of the dreaded sect one of the arrested suspect claimed had scattered in the states.

 Ondo

Reacting to the news about the infiltration of part of the state by the Boko Haram group, the chief press secretary to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Segun Ajiboye, said the government could not disclose the strategic efforts already put on ground to tighten security around the state.

Ajiboye said, who said the decision by the government to keep its strategies for fighting insecurity in the state to its chest was for the purpose of guaranteeing peace for the people of the state.

While speaking to the Sunday Tribune at the Ajiboye declared: “The reports that fleeing Boko Haram terrorists had infiltrated of the state was false. Governor Akeredolu (SAN) had told the people of the state of his determination to protect them and their properties while his government was being inaugurated. So, it is on record that the governor had done and still doing a lot to fulfill this crucial aspect of his mandate.”

Also Read:   We are scattered across Ondo State ―Boko Haram suspect

Ajiboye, who declined to expatiate on the security measures, I will simply tell you that the state governor is on top of the security matters in the state. It is believed that criminal elements are enemies of the government and the people. So, you don’t make your strategies an item for public debate if your intention is to guarantee peace for your people.

“But, to answer your question, the government has put in place several measures to sensitise the people about the threat posed by these dangerous people.

Nonetheless, the state, the state Police Public Relations Officer,  (PPRO)  Femi Joseph, said adequate measures had been put in place by the command.

Kogi

In Lokoja, the state police command, which confirmed the recent arrest of kidnappers suspected to be members of the Boko Haram smoked out of the North-East, said, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) had been deployed to gather intelligence to safeguard the society.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Williams Anya, told Sunday Tribune, that the command had been sending policemen to mosques on Fridays and churches on Sundays.

Ogun

The Ogun State Police Command said it was on top of security situation in the state, saying its men attached to the State Intelligence Bureau were regularly patrolling the state.

The Command’s image maker, Abimbola Oyeyemi, told Sunday Tribune that the state was not under any threat of attack from the Boko Haram.

Abimbola, an Assistant  Superintendent of Police, also said that the people of the state were equally gathering information for the Police to make the state safe.

Sunday Tribune observed that corporate institutions, government agencies, religious centres were not manned by security operatives due to possible attack.

 Also Read:  Ondo police parade another suspected Boko Haram member

In Osogbo, the Osun State capital, the state government said it was collaborating with relevant security agencies to ensure effective security of lives and property.

The government also hinted that there was effective synergy between the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and security agencies to pre- empt the infiltration and potential attack of the state by fleeing Boko Haram terrorists

Speaking to our correspondent, the Special Adviser on media to the governor, Mr Sola Fasure, explained that the State Security Council, comprising of Osun State, Police, army, Department of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and other security agencies were meeting regularly to assess the security situation in the state.

According to Fasure, “the State Security Council (SSC) meets regularly to examine security and intelligence reports and they are collaborating effectively and also taking pre- emptive measures to forestall any act capable of threatening the security of lives and properties”.

Enugu

Also in Enugu State, Sunday Tribune investigation revealed that since the April 25, 2016 herdsmen attack on Nimbo Community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of the state, security had been tightened in the area which is the border with Kogi and Anambra States.

Sunday Tribune recalls that scores of villagers were allegedly killed in Nimbo during the invasion.

Also Read:   Boko Haram: Ondo govt assures on security

It was gathered that the major security challenge in the state was herdsmen “attack on host communities, which had since been reduced after the invasion on Attakwu community in  Nkanu-West Local Government Area of the state shortly after the Nimbo attack last year.

Further checks showed that in churches, mosques,  schools, security measures had also been put in place with presence of private security personnel manning the premises to forestall possible terror attack.