Boko Haram infiltration: Fresh security cordon nationwide

A FRESH security dragnet has been thrown across states in the country, following the alert raised by military authorities that some fleeing members of the Boko Haram sect from the North-East might have infiltrated some communities in parts of the country.

While law enforcement agents have stepped up their games in response to the warning, individuals, groups and organisations have also reviewed their security arrangements as part of preemptive measures to stave off any unforeseen circumstance.

It was also learnt that the office of the Inspector General of Police had given a directive to all state commands for security beef up.

In Kano, the state police command said that it had put its men fully on guard, ostensibly because of confirmation by the Director of State Security (DSS) of the arrest of two suspected Boko Haram members in the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO)Deputy Superintendent of Police, Magaji Musa Majia, however, told Sunday Tribune that the personnel of the command had been put on the alert.

“The command is much aware of the likely infiltration of insurgents, who had been displaced from the Sambisia Forest in the North-East. So, all necessary security measures had also been put in place to curtail such situation,” he said.

DSP Majia said that in line with the directive, the authorities had embarked on aggressive enlightenment campaign on the need for extra vigilance by members of the public and furnish security operatives with information about strange faces within the neighbourhood.

He added that the command had intensified surveillance at the Falgore Forest Reserve in the state and adjoining communities, while the stakeholders, especially district heads were advised to complement efforts of the command by promptly informing security operatives of any shady character.

In Plateau State, there was anxiety among residents of the state capital, Jos, because of the warning.

This is because armed groups had at different occasions in the past, attacked the city, killing a number of persons.

Sunday Tribune observed that some strategic public places, especially places of worship that hitherto relaxed security around their premises have since tightened their security network to avoid being caught napping.

In the last crossover night service, worshippers were thoroughly frisked and allowed into churches with only their bibles, while cars were not allowed within the vicinity of churches, with a team of armed policemen on standby.

A pastor with one of the pentecostal churches in Jos, Solomon Ibrahim, said there was a circular to that effect from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that members should be extra vigilant.

Similar security arrangement were noticed at mosques, especially on Friday as worshippers were frisked some meters away from the premises, while any suspicious individuals were turned back.

The Publicity Secretary of  Jamatul Nasir Islam (JNI)  in Plateau State, Alhaji Sani Mudi said JNI agreed at a meeting with security agencies in the state on the alleged infiltration of insurgents to take some preemptive measures.

Most of the major motor parks within the state capital are also not left out in the preemptive measures.

At the Plateau Rider Park, one of the most organised parks in the state, movement of vehicles into the park were restricted to only those registered with the management of the park, while vehicles and travelers were thoroughly searched at the entrance.

On the preemptive measures put in place by the state government, the Special Adviser (Media), to the state governor, Mr. Dan Manjang said the government was not taking the issue of possible infiltration of Boko Haram into some communities in the across country for granted.

According to him, the government has been holding series of meetings with security chiefs in the state on the need to be fully on the alert, just as the citizens are being sensitised on daily basis on the need to report any suspicious moves to the law enforcement agencies.

In Kwara State, the Public Relations Officer of the state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Henry Bilesanmi, confirmed that the command actually received a letter from the Defence Headquarters intimating them of the possible infiltration of the insurgents in some communities and on the need to be extra vigilant.

He said efforts were being made with all other sister security agencies in the state to tackle the development, stressing that the officers and men of the command in all formations in the 16 local government areas of the state had been briefed as appropriate.

Also speaking, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Kwara Police Command, Ajayi Okasanmi, said the command had alerted all policemen “in entry and exit points to the state to be more painstaking in stop and search of persons coming to the state, while also sensitising members of the public on the need to be more vigilant and conscious now than ever before.

“Our Intelligence Section has also been activated to scout for information on any strange person or persons of suspicious antecedent,” he said.

In Ondo State, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Demi Joseph, said the command had mapped out fresh strategies to stave off such infiltration by the insurgents seeking refuge after being flushed out of the North-East.

“We are happy that the dreaded Boko Haram have been routed from their stronghold by the military and that is a great feat by the Federal government and the military and we are happy for that.

“But we have never been complacent on the issue of security, as far as this state is concerned. On the issue of Boko Haram, we have been very cautious and careful in the way we handle the issue of security.

“The Commissioner of Police in the state has put all our officers on their toes because we are mindful of the fact that as Boko Haram has been routed from the Sambisa Forest; they will want to run stray to anywhere for safety

“However, we have mapped out a lot of strategies which I will not want to disclose, but you will see our men along the highway doing occassioal stop and search on any vehicle they suspect

“Apart from that, we have increased the capacity of our intelligence arm and we have sent them to all the nook and crannies, most especially the border town within the state,” he said.

A member of the Hausa community in the state, Abdulai Muhammad, who spoke with our correspondent said: “We always report any suspicious move to the security agents because we know ourselves and any stranger with no identity will be reported or handed over to security agents.

“We decided to embark on this in the name of peace because we believe that we will be the prime suspects if there is any security challenge.”

In Niger State, Mr Jonathan Vatsa, Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, said  that the government was worried that some criminal minded people have capitalised on the porous border with the notorious Birni Gwari forest of Kaduna State to infiltrate the state.

He said that some suspected  criminals chased out from Zamafara State by the military have also infiltrated the state through the Birni Gwari axis to carry out the nefarious acts of kidnapping and cattle rustlings in the area in recent times.

The commissioner stated further  that in line with the incumbent administration of Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello’s determination  of ensuring peace and security of lives and property, the government has mobilised security agencies to curb the trends.

He however appealed  to the people of the area to co-operate with the security agents by offering useful information that will lead to the arrest of the criminals terrorizing innocent people of the area.

According to him, there was no way the security agents could succeed in arresting the criminal elements if the people of the affected communities  refuse to share with them useful information on the hoodlums’  modes of operations.

Also, the Commissioner of Police in Osun State, Mr Olafimihan Adeoye said that all stakeholders had been sensitised to be conscious of their immediate environment so as to notice such infiltration if it happens..

“If anyone they are suspicious of enters their communities, they should alert the police and other security agencies immediately. The religious leaders should also be conscious of new members. They should be properly screened,” he said.

The police commissioner remarked further that the state command was working in collaboration with security agencies to decisively deal with anyone who might want to foment trouble in the state.

He enjoined residents of the state to give credible information to the police, while the police had been closely monitoring activities going on within the state.

“The sensitisation is continuous. As of now, we don’t have such report of infiltration of Boko Haram members. Osun State is peaceful,” he said.

The Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Taiwo Lakanu, also told Sunday Tribune that his state command already had virile and intelligence teams spread all over the state.

“This is not only against Boko Haram, but also kidnapping and robbery. That was why we did not record any kidnapping or robbery during the yuletide because my men were on ground. I don’t see any infiltration of Boko Haram into this state. We have encapsulated the state.

“There is no way a stranger would come in and we will never be aware. We have the support of the communities and also working hand-in-hand with other security agencies especially the vigilante group. This group has an advantage – they know the terrain very well. There has never been a reported case. We are very pro-active,” Lakanu added.

The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Sam Adegbuyi, also disclosed that the entry and exit points in the state had been fortified, while stop-and search agencies had been intensified. The Divisional Police officers at border areas have also been asked to be at alert.

“We have also put our intelligence teams on the alert. All field commanders have also been directed to intensify vehicular patrol. We are also working with local vigilantes, the Police Community Relations Committee and Miyetti Allah Association. We are also forming better synergy with other sister agencies to protect the state from infiltration by insurgents,” Adegbuyi stated further.

The Commissioner of Police in Abia State, Leye Oyebade, who said his command was on top of the situation, remarked: “Even before now, we have always sensitised the people to monitor strange faces and movement. We have our distress call numbers, and control room number.

“Any information they have info they get back to us. There is no information that they are in our midst. All hands must be on deck. Policing is everybody’s business. We have to be proactive. We are all stakeholders. They should report in time so that we know what to do but no report yet. We are only sensitizing our people.”

Reacting to the statement of the GOC, 3rd Armoured Division, Jos, the Commissioner of Police in Niger State, Muazu said that it was anticipated and was only alerting everyone.

“Ever before Sambisa take-over, we had measures that we put in place. We have increased surveillance by our operatives. They watch worship centres. We have been sensitizing people from religious places on the need to give useful information to the police promptly, especially where they notice people who look suspicious or are just coming into an area,” he said.

Muazu enjoined people of the state to report activities of even known people if such look suspicious, while he refuted the report that Boko Haram insurgents invaded communities in the state.

“So far, there has been no report of any Boko Haram in any local government area in Niger State. We have our fair share of crimes but there is nothing like 30 people kidnapped. We have synergy between us and other security agencies,” the commissioner said.