The inspector general of police Usman Baba has expressed concern over the increasing rate of arms trafficking and proliferation in Nigeria, ordering a massive deployment of operatives in cities nationwide.

Mr Baba disclosed this at a meeting with strategic police managers, consisting of officers from the rank of commissioner and above.

He said the meeting was to brainstorm on the state of insecurity in the country and to re-evaluate strategies to enhance operational response and stabilise security order.

According to him, a recent evaluation of the security situation in the country showed a disturbing trend of increase in threat to national security.

The police chief stated that the threats were posed by terror elements, bandits, kidnappers and other highly organised and violent criminal syndicates.

Mr Baba also disclosed that the trend was compounded by increasing rate of arms trafficking and proliferation leading to an attack on Kuje Prisons, with high-profile criminals escaping.

The inspector general also mentioned that the increasing violent campaigns by armed groups in Nigeria had led to widespread apprehension among the public and had continued to present a major threat to national security.

He said the conference would focus on the pathways to giving effect to the National Security Council’s resolution on the documentation and streamlining of the operations of commercial motorcycle and tricycle riders across the country.

Mr Baba stated that the resolution was part of national initiatives, directed at addressing current and evolving national security threats.

“As part of major operational initiative to stabilise the internal security order, you are all directed to immediately commence a special visibility policing operation across your commands,” Mr Baba told the senior police officers. “This initiative will encompass the crime mapping of your areas of jurisdiction, identification of vulnerable points and massive deployment of personnel on motorised and foot patrols of the cities. The initiative also involves the utilisation of intelligence to undertake targeted raids on criminal cells.”

According to him, the police had concluded arrangements for an election security management workshop ahead of the 2023 polls.

(NAN)