Fred Harrison, Abuja
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered water tight security around schools, hospitals and critical infrastructure nationwide.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement on Sunday the IGP gave the directive during a review of security reports from the commands and formations across the country.
He said that the IGP also “ordered regular patrols, stop and search, raids, and show of force by tactical commanders to clamp down on pockets of crime and criminality recorded in some states of the federation.”
According to the statement, the IGP
further directed strategic police managers at various levels to give priority to the deployment of traditional/local intelligence to locate criminal hideouts and flush them out before any attack
“He has equally charged all officers and men to be on the offensive, and take the fight against crime to the doorposts of suspected criminal elements, including bushes and uncompleted buildings, profile them, and charge those found wanting to courts accordingly.
“Against the backdrop of this development, Nigerians are hereby urged to cooperate with the Police as many police operatives will be seen at strategic areas, routes and communities, in order to suppress the antics and criminal activities of men of the underworld. The IGP has however warned officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force to be civil, professional and humane in the course of discharging their duties.
“The Inspector-General of Police has therefore reiterated his commitment to the protection of lives and property of well-meaning members of the public by decimating the activities of rogue criminal elements, particularly those who target schools, hospitals, and other critical national infrastructure, in a bid to strike fear into the hearts of good citizens in the country. He has similarly charged police officers to protect with courage and serve with compassion in line with his administration’s policing theme.” The statement read in part.