Watch Out For Bombs In Hampers..Police

 As Nigerians prepare for the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the Police in Gombe State on Thursday urged residents of the state to be on the lookout for explosive devices that could be packaged in Christmas hampers as gifts for people. The warning was contained in a statement issued in Gombe by DSP. Fwaje Atajiri, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state’s Police Command. He said that such bomb-laden parcels could then be dispatched to unsuspecting members of the public as goodwill gifts. “Members of the public should be wary of hamper gifts and parcels as they could contain Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs),” he said. Atajiri said that citizens should also take other precautionary measures to ensure hitch-free Christmas and New Year celebrations. He also told religious and community leaders to assist the police with useful information to protect lives and property. The PPRO said that religious leaders should “educate their followers to avoid being poisoned. “Motorists are also advised to obey traffic lights and all regulations as unnecessary disobedience may be fatal. “Motorists should endeavour to put security gadgets in their vehicles to forestall theft,” he said, assuring that the command would ensure a peaceful Christmas and New Year celebrations. Meanwhile, the leadership of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State has reaffirmed its commitment to provide security for the people of the state. JTF spokesman, Lt. Col. Saquir Musa, who gave the assurance during a phone interview, said the JTF is determined to restore peace to Borno State, stressing that the JTF will not relent in its efforts until peace and order is restored to the state. Maiduguri, the state capital, is witnessing mass exodus of residents who are fleeing to the southern part of the country to celebrate the Christmas and New Year as a result of the security challenges confronting the state. In Kano State, security agencies are putting measures in place to ensure that water-tight security arrangements are in place in the ancient city. Heavy traffic was noticed along major streets like New Road Luxury Park in Sabon Gari, the Naibawa and Ungwar Uku Motor Park, while economic activities have increased around the city. Speaking on the preparations by his men, Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim K. Idris, told The Nation that arrangements have put in place by security agencies to ensure a hitch-free Yuletide, and promised that there was no cause for alarm. He said: “There would be water-tight security deployment at strategic locations, including places of worship, markets, motor parks, banks, schools, hospitals and other public utilities, infrastructures and offices during the Christmas period”, adding that the dusk to dawn ban on commercial motorcyclists remain in place as part of the preventive measures. Idris urged residents of Kano to be security conscious and give maximum cooperation to security agencies, including the police and the Joint Task Force (JTF), adding that the use of knock-outs and other fireworks are prohibited, “parents and guardians are strictly warned to stop their children from purchasing and using such items as anybody caught will be prosecuted in the Court of Law.” He urged the people to call the Command’s Control Room in case of emergency, adding that the Public Complain Bureau under the office of the Command’s Public Relations Department and National Human Right Desk are also accessible for complaints on human right violation by the Police. He gave the phone numbers for the Control Room to include: 08032419754, 08123821575, 08099831808 and 064977005, while that of the Public Complain Bureau include 08066628450, 08031803555 and 08057959393. Also, the Niger State Police Command has promised residents of the state a hitch-free Yuletide celebration, as security surveillance and patrol have been increased in all the local government areas of the state. The state police command also declared that no officer or men of the command will be given any pass or leave during this period to avert any shortage of men. Confirming this development, the Command Public Relation Officer (PPRO), DSP Pius Edobor, promised that security will be provided around the state, especially in all churches during the Christmas and New Year celebrations. He said that the Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Desire Diseye Nsirim has warned troublemakers to desist from their dastardly acts or be forced to face the consequence of their actions, adding that everybody should be free to move around without fear because the police are on top of the security situation in the state