By Ahmed Ahmed
The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) will fortify security in public institutions, houses and facilities across the country
The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Finance and Administration, Bala Ciroma stated this after taking an on-the –spot- assessment of the situation in Azare headquarters of Katagum Local government area of Bauchi State.
According to him, this becomes necessary following destruction unleashed by miscreants in some parts of the country during the nationwide hunger protests.
He observed that normalcy had returned but there was a need for proactive steps to avert re-occurrence.
“However, there is a need for us to further fortify the security around the area so that we avert these kinds of things from happening in the future,” the DIG said.
“It is affords us an opportunity to interact with members of the society so that at least we are to reach out to them and enlightened them as to why these kinds of disruptive protest should allowed”
On some protesters in parts of the country carrying flags of other countries, DIG Chiroma described the action as treason.
“In a sovereign country like Nigeria it amounts to treasonable felony,” DIG Ciroma, said.
“We must be careful on how we express ourselves in terms of protest. There is a protest and there is also what we call resurrection. So be careful” he said.
It could be recalled that miscreants on Monday, August 5th day, hijacked the nationwide protests to unleash mayhem in Azare.
They razed portions of the Katagum Local Government secretariat, Azare, specifically the Health and Works departments, and touched the house of an ex Deputy Governor, and government lodge carting away refrigerators, electrical appliances among other valuables.
The situation that prompted Governor Bala Mohammed to impose a 24 hour curfew, which has now been relaxed.
The Caretaker Chairman of Katagum, Musa Azare, speaking to newsmen confirmed that there was no single casualty in Azare.
“No single protester was shot because the security acted professionally” he said
He commended the -efforts of the state governor and the security agencies in curtailing the violence.
Azare appealed to residents of Katagumi and appealed to avoid destroying public and private properties, saying such they belonged to them and their kins.