Suleiman M. Bisalla
26 December 2011
Security agencies in Abuja yesterday beefed up surveillance across the capital city as Christians celebrated Christmas in what was observed as a low key event. Several explosions yesterday disrupted the celebration in Madalla in Niger State and in Jos Plateau State.
Our reporters observed that armed soldiers and mobile policemen were deployed to important government installations as well as parks and recreations within the FCT where families and friends went to catch fund after church service.
At the Police Force headquarters in Asokoro, vehicles were earlier disallowed passage in front of the building as Shehu Shagari Way was blocked for vehicles coming towards the federal secretariat. Vehicles were diverted towards R. B. Dikko Road links to Ahmadu Bello way.
However, later in the evening, one of the two lanes on Shehu Shagari way was opened for both oncoming and outgoing vehicles but the lane closest to the gate of the force headquarters remained closed throughout the day. It would be recalled that the headquarters blasted earlier this by a twin bomb which killed many people and destroyed over 30 vehicles.
At the headquarters of the SSS on Maitama Avenue, armed personnel were seen in combat readiness even as the street remained less busy for most of the day.
At the Millennium Park, not too far away from the SSS headquarters, many soldiers were directly involved in conducting search operation on vehicles at the entrance to the park. Also, fun-catchers were made to join very long queues as they were searched before entering the park. Many had very little time left for fun by the time they entered.
Similarly, armed mobile policemen men were seen around parks elsewhere in the city, especially drinking sports. Other recreation centres also had the presence of the police who were there to beef up the private security arrangements there.
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