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There were indications on Sunday that security operatives in the Niger Delta had been placed on the alert following reports that Boko Haram was planning an attack on the region.
Our correspondents learnt that the police, the Joint Task Force and the State Security Service had begun special collaboration in their efforts to clamp down on members of the sect who were said to have infiltrated the region.
A security source told one of our correspondents that a special team of operatives, including men of the bomb disposal unit of the Nigeria Police Force had been dispatched to various locations in the region, especially Bayelsa, the state of President Goodluck Jonathan, to monitor movements of people and vehicles.
The source, who said his name should not be mentioned because of the sensitive nature of the matter, expressed fears that the sect might use biological weapons to attack other parts of the country, including the region.
The source said, “Most of the food items we consume come from the North and the government needs to prepare for the possibility that the sect may change from bombings and gun attacks to poisoning of food items from the North.
There were indications on Sunday that security operatives in the Niger Delta had been placed on the alert following reports that Boko Haram was planning an attack on the region.
Our correspondents learnt that the police, the Joint Task Force and the State Security Service had begun special collaboration in their efforts to clamp down on members of the sect who were said to have infiltrated the region.
A security source told one of our correspondents that a special team of operatives, including men of the bomb disposal unit of the Nigeria Police Force had been dispatched to various locations in the region, especially Bayelsa, the state of President Goodluck Jonathan, to monitor movements of people and vehicles.
The source, who said his name should not be mentioned because of the sensitive nature of the matter, expressed fears that the sect might use biological weapons to attack other parts of the country, including the region.
The source said, “Most of the food items we consume come from the North and the government needs to prepare for the possibility that the sect may change from bombings and gun attacks to poisoning of food items from the North.
“It is high time the government began screening food items such as tomatoes, onions, yam and fruits that move from the North to other parts of the country. States in each region should device a means of carrying out a border check on food items before allowing them into their regions.”
He insisted that since security agencies were closing in on the sect, there was need for the government to forestall other approaches that might be adopted by the sect.
The Niger Delta Liberation Force, a body of militants, had on Friday raised the alarm on movement of firearms by suspected members of the Islamic group into some major towns in the region.
The NDLF insisted that the development was part of the strategies adopted by the sect to begin attacks on major towns and villages and extend its terrorist campaign to the Niger Delta.
The group, in an online statement by its spokesman, ‘Captain’ Mark Anthony, said, “We want to draw the attention of the people of the South-South, especially Niger Delta, that intelligence report has revealed that there is an illegal movement of firearms by persons suspected to be members of Boko Haram, to some major towns and villages in the South-South region as part of the grand plot to attack targeted areas and installations.”
The group said its decision to raise the alarm was aimed at alerting security operatives in the region to fish out the invaders.
The statement titled ‘Security Alert: Illegal Movement of Firearms to South-South Region,’ read in part, “The intelligence in our possession indicated that the Islamic sect had already deployed fighters in the region who are disguised as cyclists, otherwise called “Okada riders,” yam sellers, hawkers, shoemakers (cobblers) and other petty traders, waiting for approval to carry out their heinous crime.”
NDLF, however, declared that any move by the sect to extend its violence to the Niger Delta would be vehemently resisted.
But the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Olakpe, assured the public that the police were ready to ensure adequate and effective security.
He said, “Our bomb disposal units are on red alert, particularly in combing all refuse dumps and waste bins. Apart from that, we have set up motorised patrols by task force so that they can properly monitor vulnerable areas, vehicles and identified black spots. We are ready to make sure nothing jeopardises the existing peace and tranquility in Bayelsa.”
He insisted that since security agencies were closing in on the sect, there was need for the government to forestall other approaches that might be adopted by the sect.
The Niger Delta Liberation Force, a body of militants, had on Friday raised the alarm on movement of firearms by suspected members of the Islamic group into some major towns in the region.
The NDLF insisted that the development was part of the strategies adopted by the sect to begin attacks on major towns and villages and extend its terrorist campaign to the Niger Delta.
The group, in an online statement by its spokesman, ‘Captain’ Mark Anthony, said, “We want to draw the attention of the people of the South-South, especially Niger Delta, that intelligence report has revealed that there is an illegal movement of firearms by persons suspected to be members of Boko Haram, to some major towns and villages in the South-South region as part of the grand plot to attack targeted areas and installations.”
The group said its decision to raise the alarm was aimed at alerting security operatives in the region to fish out the invaders.
The statement titled ‘Security Alert: Illegal Movement of Firearms to South-South Region,’ read in part, “The intelligence in our possession indicated that the Islamic sect had already deployed fighters in the region who are disguised as cyclists, otherwise called “Okada riders,” yam sellers, hawkers, shoemakers (cobblers) and other petty traders, waiting for approval to carry out their heinous crime.”
NDLF, however, declared that any move by the sect to extend its violence to the Niger Delta would be vehemently resisted.
But the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Olakpe, assured the public that the police were ready to ensure adequate and effective security.
He said, “Our bomb disposal units are on red alert, particularly in combing all refuse dumps and waste bins. Apart from that, we have set up motorised patrols by task force so that they can properly monitor vulnerable areas, vehicles and identified black spots. We are ready to make sure nothing jeopardises the existing peace and tranquility in Bayelsa.”
Culled from The Punch.
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Simply Cheska...
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