Soldiers from the Presidential Guard have
been deployed in the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport,Abuja ahead of
the commencement of the World Economic Forum on Africa which takes
place between May 7 and 9, 2014
The soldiers, who are at various
strategic positions within the airport, have already barricaded some
of the roads leading to the departure and arrival halls of the airport.
One of our correspondents, who visited
the airport on Sunday morning, observed this just as the
Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, placed a security
cordon around the Federal Capital Territory and its environs to
ensure a hitch-free hosting of the WEF.
No fewer than 5,000 policemen and
soldiers are expected to provide security during the forum which will
be attended among others by the Presidents of Rwanda, Senegal and Kenya
as well as the Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang.
Schools and government offices in Abuja are to close during the event.
One of our correspondents also observed
at the NAIA that some of the unused plastic traffic cones meant for
the moribund FCT Bus Rapid Transit, had been painted in the traditional
colours of the Presidential Guard with its insignia of scorpion.
The cones were used to block some of the paths that lead to some of the halls within the airport.
Two of the soldiers, who spoke on the
condition of anonymity, said they were brought to the airport in order
to beef up security ahead of the arrival of dignitaries for the WEF.
One of them, a private said in pidgin
English, “oga, no be we come here ourselves o. Them brought us here to
provide security and I think as soon as the event is over by weekend,
maybe dem go return us to where dem bring us.
“You can see that nobody dey rest because
of the activities of these terrorists. The thing don tire us as well.
Dem no gree make we do our normal duties.
“We no suppose dey here. What is our duty
with security for airport? This is not presidential wing of the
airport. But you see, things have fallen apart and that is why we are
here o.”
Another one, who sat close to the
make-shift mosque opposite the departure lounge, merely said that they
were there based on the order of their commander, Brig.–Gen. Anthony
Omozoje.
Asked about when they would leave the
airport, he said, “Oga journalist, na order take us come here and na
order go take us commot.”
It was also observed that the authorities
of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria had deployed more security
personnel around the airport, especially within its premises.
Unlike before, only travellers are
allowed to enter the departure lounge, while those who accompany them
are turned back at the gate.
Also on Sunday, Abubakar in a detailed
operational order, directed the immediate deployment of men and
relevant security equipment in the FCT and its satellite towns to
ensure a safe, secure and conducive atmosphere before, during and after
the WEF.
A statement by the Force Public Relations
Officer, Frank Mba, said that Abubakar, ordered police field commanders
to step up security measures in all strategic locations and
vulnerable points in the FCT.
They were also directed to further
strengthen security at entry and exit points of the FCT, airports and
highways, city roads, hotels and the conference venue.
According to the statement, the IG
assured the conference participants, Nigerians and members of the
international community of adequate security.
He said that the Nigeria Police Force
and other security agencies had already put in place, security measures
for their safety and comfort.”
The British Broadcasting Corporation
however reported on Sunday that security forces had detained many
foreigners in Abuja over the recent bomb blasts in Nyanya, a satellite
community bordering Abuja and Nasarawa State.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence
said those detained on Saturday were being interrogated and had provided
“useful information.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Labour Congress
has urged security agencies and the public to take seriously, the
notice served on the government by Boko Haram that its members had come
to stay in Abuja.
The NLC, through its Acting General
Secretary , Mr. Chris Uyot, said in an electronic mail on Sunday that
the two bomb attacks on Nyanya could be the beginning of more in the
FCT.
The union advised security agencies to
involve the local populace in security issues and to establish network
centres and rapid response squads in crowded public places.
It said, “With the notice served on the
government by Boko Haram that they are in Abuja to stay, no one should
deceive himself or herself that the attacks will end with prayers or
with the wave of the hand.
“The attacks in the suburbs, we dare say,
may be a prelude to more sinister strikes. Accordingly, we invite our
security personnel to be up and doing in securing public places
especially.
“We have noticed with dismay that most
car parks are unprotected and are littered with unserviceable vehicles.
Those who run them are more concerned with revenue than the lives of
Nigerians.
“Like other Nigerians, we demand
protection for our members at home, at work and on the road. They too
are bonafide citizens. The present attacks on them are direct attacks on
productivity and the development of our economy.”
The NLC urged Nigerians and family members of the victims to be resolute in their condemnation of terrorism.
It said that the insurgents were
exploiting what it described as the ‘state of our unpreparedness, our
weak infrastructure and our chaotic lifestyle to unleash mayhem.’
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