Security has been beefed up around the Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka,
Anambra capital, venue of the Monday Ohaneze Ndigbo summit on restructuring.
Heavily armed personnel of the Army, Navy, Police and NSCDC were
strategically positioned on the adjoining roads to the venue.
Officials of the FRSC were also around Aromma Junction and the
Alex Ekwueme Square, to ensure free flow of traffic.
Police anti-bomb units were
also stationed in and around the venue, among other proactive measures taken.
It will be recalled that
members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had threatened to cause
security breach at the event, warning guests to stay away in their own
interest.
Traffic was redirected from the area as workers at the Federal and
State High Courts, State House of Assembly and Universal Basic Education Board
were searched before passing the venue to their offices.
A civil servant who gave her name as Alice said she was surprised
at the level of security presence in the area.
Alice said workers in the state were not previously intimated on
the heavy security presence, but said the development was in the interest of
the public.
“I was searched before I was allowed to use the Ekwueme Square
route that leads to my office; I was shocked initially but they explained the
reasons to me,” she said.
Musa Amad, a commercial motorcyclist, said they were forced to
take longer routes as the normal roads to these offices were condoned off.
He decried the drop in patronage by the residents as most
commuters trekked to their different destinations.
SP Haruna Mohammed, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in
Anambra, had warned IPOB members to steer clear the venue or have themselves to
blame.
Mohammed said adequate
security would be provided for all law abiding citizens.
“I am sounding this as a note
of warning to any group that plans to make trouble during the summit. We are
ready for them and will not tolerate any violence.
“Our men are ready for them and
we are urging members of the public to go about their duties diligently,” he
said.
Comments
Post a Comment