Esther Oseyiomon
The acting Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has placed police commands nationwide on red alert following rising tensions in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Police commissioners, particularly in the Northwest, Northeast and Northcentral zones, have been directed to heighten surveillance and intelligence gathering to forestall any spillover effects on Nigeria’s internal security.
The directive was conveyed in a statement issued in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, who said the move was aimed at preventing individuals or groups from exploiting global developments to incite unrest.
According to the statement, commissioners in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are to strengthen collaboration with traditional and religious leaders to sustain peace and public order.
They are also to enhance visibility policing around worship centres and other public spaces, while responding swiftly to any attempt to trigger sectarian tension.
The Nigeria Police Force said although Nigeria remains stable and its internal security situation is under control, proactive and intelligence-led policing measures have been reinforced nationwide.
The Force warned that Nigeria would not serve as a theatre for foreign conflicts, stressing that any attempt to import external ideological or religious tensions would be met with the full weight of the law.
Disu called on community leaders to promote peaceful coexistence and urged citizens to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding, encouraging them to report suspicious activities to the nearest police formation.