BOKO HARAM: Security agents on high alert in Abuja

Security agencies in Abuja, have urged residents to be watchful, following recent threats by members of Boko Haram to bomb Abuja. To this end, an emergency security meeting, called at the instance of the FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello has been held.

Also, the security agents have vowed and expressed their readiness to combat all forms of threat to lives and property in the territory by intensifying intelligence efforts, surveillance and raiding black spots within and around Abuja.

The security meeting which was chaired by the FCT Minister, Bello, was attended by FCT police Commissioner, FCT Director of DSS, the Nigerian Army (Guards Brigade & Garrison Command), Nigeria Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Customs, Immigration, NSCDC, Prisons, FRSC, NDLEA, all the FCT Area Council Chairmen, Chairman, FCT Council of Chiefs, representatives FCT CAN and Abuja National Mosque, Acting Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council as well as all Acting Secretaries of FCT Mandate Secretariats.

The security chiefs noted with concern the recent threat by the Boko Haram sect to attack the FCT, but warned that the threat is not being taken lightly as everything would be done to prevent attack on any part of the Territory.

According to the media aide to the FCT Minister, Mr Abubakar Sani, the meeting resolved that the security agencies in collaboration with the FCT Administration would continue with efforts being made to ensure compliance with the various regulations on street hawkers, commercial motorcycles (Okada), tricycles (Keke Napep), unpainted taxis and commercial sex workers in the Territory.

The meeting noted that the activities of these categories of people have given rise to illegal motor parks and other dark spots around the city which could easily be used by hoodlums to perpetrate their nefarious activities and therefore resolved to increase surveillance of the various security flashpoints such as illegal motor parks, uncompleted buildings, Mosques, Churches and market places.

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It warned all owners of uncompleted buildings to evict all those illegally occupying the buildings as raids would be carried out to apprehend such people except the security men guarding the buildings.

Meanwhile, after reviewing the measures taken to secure the Nyanya motor park which was a target of bomb attack in 2014, the meeting expressed satisfaction with the facilities put in place to secure the lives of commuters who would be using the park and therefore agreed that the park should be immediately re-opened to the public.

The meeting observed that the closure of the Nyanya Motor park has given rise to many illegal motor parks around the area which not only pose a threat to security but also causing heavy traffic gridlock on that highway leading to the loss of many man hours especially for citizens trying to find their way to work.

Similarly, the meeting noted that the AYA, Area One and Berger Roundabouts have been hijacked by hoodlums and other miscreants due to the presence of illegal taxis and other commercial vehicles around those areas and thus resolved to embark on full enforcement to clear the areas of all illegal operators and other obstructions to ensure free flow of traffic.

They, however, called on religious leaders, traditional and political authorities to put in more efforts in sensitizing and mobilizing the people in the fight against crime in the capital city as well as timely sharing of information with the security agencies to nip any crime in the bud.

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