By Augustine Ehikioya
As Nigeria marks her 61st Independence Anniversary on Friday, 1st October, 2021, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, has assured Nigerians of maximum security.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, CP Frank Mba and obtained by Security Watch Africa (SWA), the IGP noted that “the Force has emplaced adequate security measures to protect the citizens.”
Assuring the success of all the activities lined-up for the anniversary celebration, he said that preventive mechanisn are in place to tackle any untoward situation throughout the period of the celebration and beyond.
The statement said “Consequently, the Assistant Inspectors General of Police and Commissioners of Police in all the Zonal and State Commands and the FCT have been directed to lead the Independence Anniversary security operations from the frontline.
“They are to ensure high visibility and confidence boosting patrols around the venues of the celebrations, residential areas and other places of public resort to prevent any infiltration by hostile elements.”
The IGP, while congratulating His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Nigerians at large, “on the occasion of the Independence Anniversary celebration, pledged the unalloyed loyalty of the NPF to the sovereignty of the country as well as its unflinching commitment to combating crimes and criminality in the country and ensuring the safety of the citizenry.”
The IGP also called on citizens to go about the celebrations in the most peaceful and law abiding manner.
He appealed for a new sense of pan-Nigerian spirit, patriotism, love and deliberate efforts by leaders at all levels at de-escalating ethnic tensions and suspicions in the land.
He enjoined the citizenry “to continue to cooperate with the Police and other security agencies in fighting crimes and criminality in the country.”