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From Mohammed Abubakar, Dutse
Ahead of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s official visit to Jigawa State on Tuesday, the State Command has warned those it described as miscreants to steer clear of the venue of the rally or face the wrath of the law.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the command, Tijjabi Muratla, while briefing newsmen in his office, said adequate security personnel had been deployed to strategic locations in the state capital to ensure everything goes according to plan.
The police chief said the security arrangement involved personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Department of State Services (DSS) and other supporting security agencies.
According to him, the command has commenced comprehensive security preparations, beginning with stakeholder engagement, followed by operational planning and the deployment of personnel across strategic locations.
The CP explained that a meeting had already been held with commanders of the various security agencies in the state to strengthen collaboration and ensure effective coordination before, during and after the presidential visit.
He said the command had also prepared an operational order to guide the security operation, adding that additional personnel, including Police Mobile Force (PMF) officers from other commands and tactical formations, were being deployed to reinforce the existing security structure.
Murtala expressed confidence that the security assessment conducted so far indicated no major threat to the President’s visit, assuring residents and visitors that adequate measures had been put in place to protect lives and property.
“Jigawa State remains very peaceful, and we commend the people for their law-abiding nature. We assure them that we are going to protect them and their properties.
“We will not allow any disgruntled elements to infiltrate the gathering or take advantage of the President’s visit to cause any security breach,” he said.
The police commissioner, however, warned that security agencies would not overlook possible criminal activities associated with large gatherings, particularly pickpocketing, mobile phone snatching and other petty crimes.
He said plain-clothes intelligence officers would be deployed within the crowd to identify and apprehend suspected criminals, while other security operatives would maintain surveillance and monitor movements around designated venues.
Murtala stressed that although the state had not recorded any significant security threat relating to terrorism and banditry, the command remained vigilant and prepared to address any emerging security challenge.
He further clarified that the deployment of adequate personnel was strictly part of the comprehensive security arrangements for the presidential visit and not a political campaign strategy.
The commissioner reiterated the command’s commitment to working with sister security agencies to ensure that President Tinubu’s visit, during which he is expected to commission projects and participate in political engagements ahead of the 2027 general elections, would be conducted peacefully.
