Thousands of police personnel are being deployed across the country to protect public places throughout the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
Joining them to keep the peace are personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), while the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is assigning its own to the highways to ensure safety.
The police are paying attention to shopping malls, motor parks, financial institutions, places of worship and recreation centres to enable holiday makers, worshippers and other Nigerians enjoy optimum safety during the period, according to the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), DCP Frank Mba.
Mba said in a statement in Abuja on Friday that Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu assured Nigerians of adequate security before, during and after the celebration.
He said Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) in charge of zone and state commands had been mandated to comply with the directive.
Mba also said the IGP directed state Commissioners of Police, including the FCT to put in place strategic and customised security on major highways.
The FPRO said the idea was to ensure adequate safety for travellers and other road users.
“The IGP heartily expresses goodwill to and congratulates all Nigerians, especially the Muslim Ummah, as they join other faithful all over the world in celebrating this year’s Eid-el-Kabir.
“The IGP has reassured the public, especially, worshippers, travellers and all well-meaning citizens that the police will effectively discharge their constitutional responsibility of providing adequate security for all,” he said.
Mba, therefore, urged Nigerians to, at all times, be security conscious and report promptly suspicious moves by individuals or groups to the police or other relevant security agencies.
NAN reports that the Federal Government declared Monday, August 12 and Tuesday, August 13, as public holidays to mark the 2019 Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
Police restrict vehicular movement in Yobe
The Yobe State Police Commissioner, Abdulmaliki Sanmonu, announced a restriction of vehicular movement from 11:00pm today to tomorrow to ensure a hitch-free Eid-el-Kabir.
Sanmonu said in a statement in Damaturu that the restriction would assist the security agencies in effective policing and prevent hoodlums and criminally-minded elements from disrupting the celebration.
The Police Commissioner assured residents of the state of adequate security in all praying grounds and places of public gathering before, during and after the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
“In view of the forthcoming Sallah Celebration, Yobe State Police Command has put in place modalities to provide adequate security in all praying grounds and places in the state,” he said.
Sanmonu, however, urged the public to provide useful information to the police and other security agencies about suspicious person, movement and objects.
Kano police ban rallies, processions
The Kano State Police Command said yesterday that there will be no unauthorized rallies and processions in the state during the Eid-el-Kabir.
It said any rally or procession without due legal process and which is capable of leading to security breach or breakdown of law and order would attract severe consequences and sanctions.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Abdullahi Haruna, said in Kano that the command was partnering the Department of State Services (DSS),the NSDSC, Immigration, Federal Road Safety Corps, KAROTA and other civil volunteers in the state to enforce traffic regulations during the period.
The collaboration, according to him, would ensure free flow of vehicles, safety of lives and property during the celebrations.
Haruna urged members of the public to cooperate and support the personnel in discharging their statutory duties.
The PPRO called for strict obedience to traffic rules and regulations, avoidance of driving on one way, overspeeding, unsecured loading and dangerous driving.
“Security measures will be observed at worship centres, and worshippers attending Eid grounds are advised to avoid carrying unnecessary objects that may trigger apprehension or suspicion.
“People attending recreational centres during the Sallah celebrations should be extra vigilant by taking good cognizance of people and objects around them and report any suspicious movement or item to security agencies.
“Emergency GSM lines for distress calls are: 08032419754, 08123821575 and 08075391163.
“Under-aged children and unlicensed persons are not allowed to operate motor vehicles and tricycles before, during and after the festive period,” he said.
The PPRO urged parents and guardians to always accompany their children with adults that will guide them so as to checkmate cases of missing children, accidents or any unsolicited dealings.
He said: “Rigorous patrols and raids to complement Operation Puff Adder will continue to avert any breach of the peace by criminals and miscreants throughout the state.
“The Kano Commissioner of Police, Mr Ahmed Iliyasu, wishes the good people of the state a Happy Eid-el-Kabir in advance.”
24-hr patrol of prayer grounds in Ekiti
The Ekiti Police Command promised a 24- hour surveillance around the various praying grounds and event or recreation centres across the state.
The state Police Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Caleb Ikechukwu, said in Ado-Ekiti that policemen had been strategically deployed across the length and breadth of the state with a clear mandate of ensuring a crime-free Sallah celebration.
“Men of special units such as SARS, PMF, Rapid Response and others have already been placed on red alert.
“The team and intelligence units and the anti-kidnapping and cultism sections, among others, have also been deployed to nip in the bud any violent crime that may want to rear its ugly head,” he said.
Commissioner of Police Amba Asuquo enjoined Muslims to reflect on the reasons for the Sallah celebration and ensure peace at all times.
He appealed to members of the public to alert the police and other security agencies whenever they noticed strange movements or suspicious faces gathering in their domains.
He urged them to call the Police Control Room on 08062335577 in case of emergency.
3,500 police personnel deployed in Kwara
Three thousand, five hundred police personnel will be on duty at strategic locations in Kwara State to ensure adequate security throughout Eid-el-Kabir festival, according to Police Commissioner Kayode Egbetokun.
He said the move was to ensure that the Eid-el-Kabir and Dubar were hitch-free.
He stressed the need for the events to be celebrated “in peace, devoid of rancour and any act/acts that may jeopardise the peace the state is known for.”
He added: “The command wants to emphasise that the forthcoming festival is not political and as such, political slogans and foul languages will not be accepted from any quarters.
“Also, auto-mobile operators are advised to always respect the rights of other road users,” the police chief said.
He advised the general public to be conscious of their security and monitor activities of their children and wards during the festive period.
Egbetokun urged the people to report any suspicious movements and criminal activities to the nearest police stations.
The commissioner urged people to call the following phone numbers in case of emergencies:
09033871133; 07015338157; 08070734277 and 08125275046.
3,000 NSCDC personnel on duty in Delta
The Delta State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) says it is deploying 3,000 armed and unarmed personnel to ensure a hitch-free Eid-el-Kabir in the state.
Mr Eke Onyekachi, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command, said that the state Commandant of the corps, Dr Eze Benito, had deployed the officers throughout the state to work in synergy with other security agencies.
Onyekachi said that the deployment was to provide adequate security during the holidays and ensure that the Eid-el-Kabir was hitch-free and enjoyed by all.
He said that the officers were expected to patrol major areas in the state and would be positioned at strategic locations to ensure security for all Delta people throughout the period of the festival.
No tricycle operations in Jos
Tricycle operations have been suspended in Plateau State during the Sallah.
The state commandant of the NSCDC, Mr.Solomon Olasupo, asked tricycle operators to adhere to the suspension of their operation between August 12 and August 13.
He said the corps would deploy 2,000 of its personnel to ensure a crime-free and peaceful Eid-el-Kabir celebration in the state with most of the personnel stationed within Jos-Bukuru metropolis, while others would be stationed at strategic places, such as recreational and worship centres as well as motor parks.
He further revealed that the officers and men would work in synergy with other security agencies in the state.
Olasupo called on parents to caution their children and wards to desist from acts capable of breaching the peace in the state.
He called on residents to go about their legitimate businesses as the NSCDC would provide adequate security.
Mobile courts to try motorists in Niger
Motorists who violate traffic rules during the Eid-el-Kabir in Niger State will face trial at the mobile court, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has warned.
It will deploy 641 personnel, 25 patrol vehicles and three ambulances to ensure a smooth flow of traffic and safety during the period.
The Sector Commander in the state, Mr. Joel Dagwa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Minna that erring motorists should not expect to go free.
“There will be more mobile courts just to ensure qualified and dully certified drivers and vehicles ply the highways during and after the festivities in the state,” he said.
He said that the personnel had been deployed to the Minna-Bida, Mokwa-Suleja, Tafa-Kaduna, Lambata-Agaie and Lapai-Bida highways.
Other strategic areas, he said, include the Suleja and Minna- Kontagora highways.
“We have stationed one heavy duty truck at the Mokwa-Jebba highway.
“Our special patrol for the season will not spare drivers without licences, vehicle particulars, under-aged drivers and those with worn-out tyres.
“We will be visible on all the major federal highways to ensure that road users obey traffic rules and regulations during and after the festivities,” he said.
FRSC deploys 1,025 in Oyo
The Oyo State Command of the FRSC is deploying no fewer than 1,025 of its personnel and 28 operational vehicles for a crash-free and successful Eid-el-Kabir.
The State Sector Commander, Mrs Uche Chukwurah, said that the 1,025 Regular and Special Marshals are drawn from 11 FRSC formations in the state, including the Sector Command Headquarters to man all major routes within the state.
She said that the command would be joining other FRSC formations nationwide in an operation tagged ”Eid-el-Kabir Special Patrol Operation” slated to hold from yesterday to August 16.
Chukwurah said the operation became imperative because it was believed that there would be increased travels before and after the celebrations.
She noted that it was projected that the celebrations would trigger an increase in human and vehicular traffic across major corridors on the nation’s highways.
“It is imperative to reiterate the essence of abstinence from risky road use behaviour and total adherence to all traffic laws as prescribed by extant traffic laws,” Chukwurah said.