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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Conflict & Security

Security agencies calm fears over barricades in Abuja

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Security agencies have deployed personnel and barricades in Abuja's city center to manage protests.
  • They assured residents that these measures are routine and aimed at maintaining law and order.
  • The police are expanding their strategy to include community collaboration alongside intelligence gathering.

Security agencies have explained the increased presence of personnel and barricades in Abuja's city center, assuring residents that these are routine measures to maintain law and order amid a rise in protests. The deployments, situated at strategic points, have caused traffic congestion and delays for commuters.

It is a joint operation. There is no cause for alarm at the moment.

— CSP Anietie InieduThe Force Public Relations Officer assured the public that the security measures were not indicative of an immediate threat.

Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, stated at a joint media briefing that there is currently no security threat warranting panic. He noted an upsurge in protests within the city center, prompting intensified security deployments to ensure public safety. "The deployments are basically deployments with movement from one location to the other to ensure that our city centre is safe," Iniedu said.

We’ve noticed that there has been an upsurge of protests in the city centre, and we’re trying to maintain law and order as is our basic and primary responsibility.

— CSP Anietie InieduIniedu explained the reason behind the increased security presence.

Iniedu highlighted the importance of these measures, given that Abuja is Nigeria's capital, hosting diplomatic missions, government institutions, and foreign investors. He emphasized the need to maintain confidence among those in the city center and for foreign investors. The police are shifting towards "intelligence-led community collaborative policing," recognizing that intelligence alone is insufficient to address evolving security threats.

The deployments are basically deployments with movement from one location to the other to ensure that our city centre is safe.

— CSP Anietie InieduIniedu described the nature of the security deployments.

Kingsley Amako of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit added that agencies are strengthening intelligence gathering and financial surveillance to combat terrorism financing. He stated that security agencies are adapting their tactics to counter new methods employed by criminals. While some operations remain undisclosed, the agencies are actively working to ensure the city's security.

Remember, we’re in the capital, and there’s a lot that has to be done to ensure confidence in those in the city centre and also for our foreign investors.

— CSP Anietie InieduIniedu stressed the significance of maintaining security in the capital for both residents and investors.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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