From Molly Kilete, Abuja
the military and security agencies have embarked on a show of force in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
This is just as the military has mounted roadblocks and beefed up security in all the entry and exit points into the FCT.
Similar road blocks have equally been mounted in specific areas considered to be vulnerable in the city centre, satellite towns while all military checkpoints hitherto closed have been reopened.
The security beef up in and around the nation’s capital is to prevent hoodlums from gaining access into the FCT.
Daily Sun, investigations revealed that soldiers from the Guards Brigade, Nigerian Army, have taken over and beefed up security at Abaji, Kefffi/Abuja Road, Giri, Abuja/Kaduna Road, Bwari/Kaduna Road, Karshi/Nassarawa Road among other notable entry and exit points into the FCT.
The soldiers were seen conducting stop and search on specific vehicles suspected to be carrying passengers of questionable characters.
A security operative told Daily Sun that the stop and search operations, which commenced last week, have achieved tremendous results with the arrest of some suspects.
The source also said apart from embarking on security patrols of the FCT and its surrounding states, there are ongoing operations where targeted criminal hideouts are being destroyed while areas considered highly vulnerable are raided daily.
The source listed the vulnerable areas where most criminals hibernate to include, Gwagwalada, Zuba, Kaduna road, Gwagwa, Idu, Bwari, Dutse, Jabi, Utako, Karmo, Lugbe, Apo, Kugbo, Mararaba, Kuje, Nyanya, Jikwoyi, Masaka, Jiwa among other notorious spots where several arrests were made and dangerous weapons recovered.
The source further stated that there are snap security checkpoints mounted in various parts of the FCT, and its surrounding states.
Daily Sun, investigation revealed that the security forces embarking on the show of force comprises personnel from the armed forces, police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Immigration, Customs, Federal Road Safety Corps among others have been patrolling the satellite towns in a show of force convoy and a signal to would be protesters to have a rethink over their action.
It was also observed that the convoy is being led by the police with the army leading from the rear.
The show of force was observed by residents of Karshi, Orozo, Nyanya, Mararaba, Abuja/Keffi road, Garki, Wuse, Kubwa Expressway, Kuje, Gwagwalada and the city centre.
The FCT Police Commissioner, Beneth Igwe, had, at a media briefing last week, appealed to residents not to take part in the planned protest so as not to destabilise the security measures put in place to safeguard the FCT.
Meanwhile, there is palpable tension in the FCT, as some residents have resorted to stay indoors to observe the situation just as many have embarked on purchasing food items and other needs to sustain them during the strike if it eventually holds.
A tour round the city showed that there was scarcity of transport as passengers were seen in large numbers in most of the bus stops in the city centre and satellite towns.
It was gathered that most transporters kept their vehicles off the road because of the unavailability of fuel in most of the petrol stations while some complained of not having money to fill their tanks. The private drivers, popularly known as kabu-kabu, were off the road leaving many passengers stranded.
Daily Sun also gathered that the planned protest has forced some residents to flee the FCT, with their children to their villages and other places they consider to be safe.
When contacted, Igwe could not be reached for comment. Also the FCT police public relations officer could not be reached as her number was busy when contacted on the matter.