28 September 2013, Lagos – Following the attack on the Nairobi’s Westgate Mall in Kenya and in view of the renewed deadly campaign by the violent religious sect, Boko Haram, security agencies have beefed up surveillance around malls, fuel tanker terminals, tank farms and other strategic locations in Nigeria.
The increased surveillance around stratategic locations also coincides with the commencement of activities marking the 53rd independence anniversary.
Top hierarchies of the Nigerian security agencies allayed fears that the kind of deadly attack on the Kenyan mall could be carried out in the country, but added that the intelligence community would not leave things to chance.
Director, Department of State Security Services, DSS, Lagos Command, Mr. Ben Achu-Olayi, in a telephone conversation, noted the incident in Kenya and said, “We get over excited when such things happen. We have a more challenging security problem at hand that has given us an edge and ground work.
“However, one thing to do is to sustain and upgrade our security systems. At the moment, we have data bank of all shopping malls and high rise buildings in the state and they are under surveillance. For those owned by individuals, we have advised them to upgrade their security system but generally, we have stepped up security in the state.”
Achu-Olayi while maintaining that “Lagos is safe”, also disclosed that steps had been taken to ensure that it remains a safe city, adding that a robust security measure had been put around tank farms and tanker terminals.
The General Officer Commanding, GOC, 81 Division Headquarters, Major General Abel Umahi, said security agencies were prepared to ensure the safety of lives and properties around Lagos and neighbouring states.
– This Day
