Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Police Command, CP Babaji Sunday and heads of police tactical squads domiciled in Abuja to restrategise and take proactive measures in the wake of a terror alert issued by the United States, US Embassy in Abuja on Sunday, October 23rd.
As the lead agency in internal security, the IGP said a review of the US security advisory was being done, assuring however, that the Police “will not take any threat intelligence, either actionable or not, for granted; thus, there is no cause for alarm as all hands are on deck to collectively nip threats in the bud”.
The IGP has also announced the immediate commencement of a Counter Terrorism Incident Simulation Exercise codenamed “Operation Darkin Gaggawa” which will hold within the Force Headquarters and the Police Officers Wives Association School opposite the Force Headquarters, Abuja, between Tuesday 25 and Wednesday, October 26.
Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, a Chief Superintendent of Police and Force Public Relations Officer, said in a statement on Monday, that the exercise will involve diversion of traffic, use of blank ammunition, and other operational manpower and assets, and is designed to improve interoperability and synergy between different Units and Formations of the Force in response to terrorist incidents and other violent crimes.
He urged the general public not to panic at the sound of explosives and gunshots during the exercise.
The statement reads in part:
“The Nigeria Police Force hereby reassures Nigerians and all other residents and visitors in the country that it will effectively review the United States of America Embassy in Abuja’s security advisory which was issued, widely circulated, and published by the media on October 23rd, 2022, indicating an elevated risk of terror attacks in the country, particularly in the capital city of Abuja.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, fdc, CFR, has however ordered the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory, heads of tactical squads domiciled in the FCT, and other State Command CPs to restrategize security management within their jurisdictions, as the Force Headquarters will continually avail them with required support, logistics, and deployments necessary for providing safety to all and sundry in Nigeria. While the NPF will continually work with other security agencies to make every part of Nigeria safe, especially the FCT.
“In furtherance of his zeal and strategies to decimate activities of non-state actors and other criminal elements in the FCT and other parts of the country, and to analyze and de-escalate threats gathered from various intelligence at the Force’s disposal, U.S advisory inclusive.
“The Inspector-General of Police therefore reiterates the commitment of his administration to ensuring safety of lives and property within the country via the effective deployment of tactical and operational assets for effective intelligence gathering and proactive policing. He further reassures Nigerians of a safe and secured country for all”.
