As the Muslim faithful in Nigeria mark the 2013 Eid-el Kabir, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), MD Abubakar, has ordered heads of Operational Units nationwide to put in place high visibility policing strategies targeted at achieving a secure, peaceful and incident-free Sallah celebration.
Police spokesman Frank Mba said in a statement that the directive was issued yesterday to Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in-charge of Zones and State Command Commissioners of Police.
“The IGP further directed Commanders in-charge of the Police Special Forces – the Air Wing, the Maritime Command, the Counter Terrorism Unit and the Border Patrol Units to ensure purposeful and strategic deployment of their personnel and logistics to ensure all criminal threats are effectively checkmated,” Mr. Mba said.
The Commissioners of Police are directed to adequately protect all essential infrastructure and vulnerable points including highways, motor parks, places of worship, shopping malls and recreation centres, while Commanders of Police Mobile Force Squadrons are to ensure that their respective Quick Reactionary Units remain on high alert throughout the holiday period.
“The IGP reminded Operational Commanders that though the nation is on holiday, policemen are not on holiday and all Commanders are expected to remain at their beats and posts throughout the Sallah period,” the statement said.
The IGP also urged officers and men deployed for the celebrations to conduct themselves in a most professional manner, in line with the Force Code of Conduct andProfessional Ethics and other extant laws regulating the rules of engagement, charging them to be mindful of the fundamental rights of the citizens in the discharge of their