Abuja, July 9, 2015 (NAN) The Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), an NGO, has advised Nigerians to embrace the new security measures adopted by the Federal Government to tackle Boko Haram’s renewed attacks.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Federal Government recently placed a ban on street hawking and begging, following Boko Haram’s renewed attacks on places of worship, schools and government institutions.
It also directed security agencies to beef up security around these places.
The Executive Secretary of the centre, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (rtd), who gave the advice at an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja, said that the measures introduced by the government were steps in the right direction as they were aimed at preventing further attacks.
“The best strategy is prevention, since we do not know when the enemy may strike and since we do not know who they are, where they are, our best response therefore is defence.
“We must defend whatever we have and where we are in the form of reporting strange movements of persons and subjects to the nearest security agencies.
“The centre has also noted that the new security measures put in place by the Nigeria Police and other security agencies across the country, which includes fortifying security around worship centres, and banning street hawking and begging in some major towns is the right step in the right direction.“
Anas, a security expert, said that public understanding of the new measures was important in order to be able to win the fight against insurgency in the country.
On the debate for and against the removal of military checkpoints in parts of the country, the expert said that the decisions to remove the check points were not taken haphazardly.
He said that such decisions were often based on carefully generated intelligence and advised members of the public to accept government’s decision in good faith.
According to him, the checkpoints have helped to reduce terrorism in parts of the country.
“I do not have all information available to determine when, where and how to put military or police or security checkpoints or remove them.
“We believe that government in its wisdom and based on information available decides when to put or remove checkpoint all over the country.
“But I want to believe that whenever they are put, they serve some purpose and if government decides to remove them it must be based on certain information that the public may not be aware of.“
Anas said that CCC would provide the necessary bridge between the public and the agencies responsible for providing security and emergency response in the country to promote societal harmony.
He said that the centre would engage in research and capacity building in the area of crisis management and peace building in Nigeria.
The expert said that the centre would assist government in mobilising Nigerians on the need to remain security conscious and alert in an era of increasing acts of terror.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the centre plans to unveil its media platforms soon for public interaction in a bid to raise security awareness in the society. (NAN)