The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate deployment of patrol teams and intensified security operations nationwide ahead of the Eid-el-Adha celebrations.
The IG also directed all Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, Commissioners of Police, and Tactical Commanders to bolster security at Eid prayer grounds, recreational centres, and other public places to forestall any breach of peace during the festive period.
In a statement on Thursday by the Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, the IG emphasised the importance of maintaining a secure environment for worshippers and all citizens celebrating the festival, urging commanders to ensure visibility patrols, intelligence-led surveillance, and strategic stop-and-search operations are effectively carried out.
“Commissioners of Police, Tactical Commanders, and their supervisory Assistant Inspectors-General of Police have been instructed to strengthen security at Eid prayer grounds, recreational centres, and other public spaces.
“Additionally, officers have been tasked with conducting intelligence-led patrols, surveillance operations, and strategic stop-and-search duties to forestall any security threats during the festive period,” the statement partly read.
While extending warm felicitations to the Muslim Ummah across the country, Egbetokun encouraged Nigerians to embrace the virtues of tolerance, compassion, and peaceful coexistence, especially in the spirit of the holy month of Dhul-Hijjah.
Reaffirming the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to upholding public safety, law, and order during and beyond the festive season, the IG wished all Muslim faithful a joyous and peaceful Eid celebration.
“The IGP acknowledges the spiritual significance of this period, urging all Nigerians to sustain good virtues of tolerance, compassion and emulating the righteous ways of past prophets as encouraged in Islam, which can bolster the promotion of peaceful coexistence and national unity.
“The IGP also wishes all Muslim faithful a joyous and peaceful Eid-al-Adha celebration, encouraging them to use this period to reflect on the values of patience, kindness, and national cohesion as the country continues to strive for peace and progress,” the statement added.
Heavy traffic
Meanwhile, there was heavy traffic on major highways across the country on Thursday as thousands of Muslim faithful travelled ahead of the Sallah celebration.
The surge in movement led to significant congestion with traffic gridlocks reported at the Mararaba-Abuja road, Sabon Wuse, Kaduna, Ilorin, Kwara State and across other highways and cities.
Travellers spent hours on the Abuja-Kaduna highway before security operatives cleared the road.
The spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps, Olusegun Ogungbemide, acknowledged the challenges and assured that measures were being taken to ease the logjam.
According to him, personnel have been deployed to critical points to manage the situation.
Ogungbemide noted that the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, was on the ground at Jere along the Kaduna road, directly coordinating traffic management efforts.
Ogungbemide told The PUNCH, “Of course, there is gridlock, but we are doing everything possible to ease the movement of people. Such roads include the Mararaba-Abuja road due to construction work. Also, Sabon Wuse, Kaduna road.
“The Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed was personally involved in traffic management at Jire along Kaduna road.”
Traffic gridlock was also reported in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Thursday, following the influx of people in the state.
This was as shoppers flooded the Oja Oba, Ipata, Mandate and Sango markets for last-minute shopping while men were seen at various ram markets in Ilorin, Oke Oyi and Oke Ose.
Reports from Offa, Omu-Aran, Share and other major towns indicated that the cities were agog with visiting indigenes.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
