SSS issues security alert – Fears more bomb attacks
Headlines Friday, February 4th, 2011Following recent bomb blasts in different parts of the country, the State Security Service (SSS) yesterday raised an alarm, stressing that there is likelihood of possible attacks in the future. It, therefore, issued public safety alert.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, assistant director, public relations, Ms Marilyn Ogar, said: “Today, enemies among us have chosen to be killing our defenceless children, women, and innocent men through wide spread use of improved explosive devices (IEDs), for unjust and selfish causes.
“The importation of this trend of terrorism is a threat to public safety. Security agencies remain determined to contain this menace. However, we, as Nigerians, must collectively be more conscious and sensitive towards our immediate neigbourhoods and environments.”
She explained that this was necessary, as security personnel cannot be on every street of the country, adding that criminals choose anywhere and anytime to cause mayhem just to score a point.
According to her, “our traditional hospitality has been abused by these criminals, who wreak havoc on our people’s lives. One thing is sure, to plant a bomb demands the physical presence of the criminal at the very scene, and therefore, vigilance is imperative.
“As security agencies confront this evil, members of the public are urged to be more alert and conscious of their respective environments. All Nigerians and residents are hereby urged to report strange faces and suspicious movements and actions in their locality to security agents nearest to them.
“They should be more sensitive to persons that loiter around their premises and vicinity, as well as strange people that drop things in their neighbourhood, dustbins and other locations.”
She added that cars that are parked unnoticed, especially for prolonged periods of time, should be reported too.
The assistant director also cautioned members of the public to beware of laptops, Bibles and Korans bags, which can even be sent as gifts, as they could be used by bombers for the purposes of detonating bombs.
Similarly, members of the public are to ensure that only authorised persons have access to public utilities and facilities around them and should not volunteer addresses of relatives and other persons to stranger, the spokesperson warned.
The safety precaution, she said, would be produced by the service and would be given out as handbills to members of the public as a part of the public safety alert to avoid people being taken advantage of.
Nigerians, Ogar said, should be conscious of their right to challenge anybody suspected of unholy activities around them, while not taking the laws into their hands.
She reassured Nigerian on the commitment of the security agencies to make the forthcoming general elections peaceful with the cooperation of Nigerians.
-Sun
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