Police place operatives on high alert over alleged terrorists’ plot to attack Lagos
Police Command in Lagos says it has placed its personnel on high alert following alleged plot by suspected terrorists to attack the state.
Reports had claimed, last week, that two terrorist groups; the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram, were planning to attack some states in the North-West, North-Central and South-West.
It was learnt that security agencies had gotten a security report that ISWAP and Boko Haram planned to attack Lagos, Kaduna, Kogi, Katsina and Zamfara states as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
The report also claimed that in Lagos, some communities located at LASU-Iyana Iba, Mile 12 – Ikorodu, Iyana Ipaja, Sango/Toll gate, Maza Maza, Fun Park at Alausa, Shoprite in Ikeja, Third Mainland Bridge, Police College, Alausa, Maryland Shopping Complex, local wings of Murtala International Airport and others, were targets of the terrorists, in addition to some churches.
Meanwhile, a statement issued, Sunday by the command’s spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, noted that the command is not unmindful of intelligence reports suggesting that Lagos State could be on the radar of some persons planning attacks across the country.
“To this end, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Abiodun Alabi, has placed the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) of the Command on high alert.
“Also placed on alert are all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical Commanders, in a bid to ensure that any planned attack is promptly and decisively nipped in the bud.
“The Command is also working closely with other sister security agencies to ensure that no person or group of persons succeeds in destabilising the peace and serenity enjoyed by the good people of Lagos State,” the CP said in the statement.
The image maker said that the Lagos police boss enjoined people in the state not to fear, assuring them that all human, material and operational resources had been fully and optimally deployed across the length and breadth of the state.
Hundeyin said that in all the border towns, persons coming in and going out were under serious surveillance to ensure that there was absolutely no breach of the peace in the state.
“Consequent upon the carefully laid down security plans and strategies, all residents of Lagos State are urged to go about their lawful duties without panic or fear.
“Lagos residents are equally enjoined to remain very vigilant and report suspicious movements and persons to security agencies,” he said in the statement.
Commenting further, Hundeyin said: “We are working seriously with other security agencies. Many times that I am with the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, the Department of State Services keeps sending intelligence reports to us.”
He noted that the police were not working in isolation, but rubbing minds with other securities to forestall any attack.
“All resources are available, from human resources to gadgets. Our equipment has been optimally deployed to ensure that we don’t have any attack in Lagos.
“The people also have a role to play by reporting suspicious movements to security agencies. It’s a collective thing.
“On our part, we are not just ignoring it, we are at alert.
“Most of us have families, and relatives in Lagos, my parents are in Lagos and I know that if I don’t do my job, it’s not just the people out there that will be affected, we (the police) will be affected by this. We’re all Nigerians and we’re together in this,” the police spokesman said.
