Terrorist attack: Lagos visitors to face stop-and-search

Jerry Uwah
In apparent response to the recent spate of attacks by insurgents in the country, the Lagos State police command has announced plans to subject individuals coming into the state to stop-and-search exercise in a stepped up surveillance to forestall any terrorist attack in the state.

A statement issued by the command’s public relations officer, Ngozi Braide, said; “a contingent of strike forces and specialized units of the force which includes Police Mobile Force, Counterterrorism units, Rapid Response Squads, Explosive Ordinance Division, and conventional men have been positioned in all points to monitor vehicles and individuals coming into the state and conduct stop and search.”

The statement stressed that the state intelligence bureau operatives have also been deployed to all nooks and crannies of the state for covet operations.
Braide said the state commissioner of police, Mr. Umar Manko, has directed all area commanders and divisional police officers to supervise and monitor the new intensive surveillance which she said would pay special attention to strategic places as worship centres, shopping malls, financial institutions, business plazas, markets, government installations, recreation centres and motor parks among others.

The statement claimed that the special security measures was meant to forestall any disruption of the Easter festivities and Lagos state Black Heritage carnival, but security experts contend that it was the command’s response to the recent terrorists attack in the outskirt of Abuja, and the abduction of scores of school girls in Borno state.