The Police Command in Kwara state says it has deployed no fewer than 2,000 personnel to ensure a hitch-free Sallah celebration across the state.
The Commissioner in Charge of the Command, Mohammad Bagega, disclosed this in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the command, Ajayi Okasanmi in Ilorin, the state’s capital.
Bagega assured residents of the command’s readiness to ensure peace and orderliness, during and after the festival.
According to the police boss, this is in addition to special tactical units, comprising the Force Animal Branch, Mounted troop, police Mobile Force, anti Kidnapping, anti-cult, Explosive Ordinance Department and men of the Command’s Intelligence Unit.
He enjoined the people of the state to enjoy the Sallah celebration and holidays without any fear of attack or molestation, as both entry and exit points to the state have been sufficiently policed.
While congratulating Muslim faithful on the Eid al-Adha celebration, the command advised that the people of the state should be vigilant and be conscious of happenings around them, report strange faces, movements and activities to the police, using the following police emergency numbers: 08125275046/070-320-69501.
Bagega warned criminals of their criminality and declared that the full weight of the law will be meted on anybody arrested for any act of lawlessness.
In a related development, the Kwara State Road Traffic Management Authority (KWARTMA) has also deployed 250 personnel for special patrol during Sallah.
The Chief Executive Officer of KWARTMA, Yekeen Babatunde Bello, disclosed this in Ilorin, according to a statement by the Authority spokesperson, Omotayo Taofiq.
Bello, who stated that 80 personnel are on regular patrol within the metropolis while 120 personnel are manning different chock points (Traffic Bottleneck Areas), added that another 50 personnel were deployed to different highways to forestall any form of accidents and to act in case of emergencies.
He said the deployment was aimed at ensuring enhanced visibility and guaranteeing the safety of all road users before, during and after the Eid al-Adha celebration across the state.
Bello said the personnel would embark on the special patrol operation to ensure that motorists and other road users had a hitch-free celebration
He explained that roads like: Eyenkorin, Olooru – Bode-Saadu – Jebba, Ogbomoso – Otte – Airport, Zango – Oke-Ose – Oke-oyi and Ganmo – Amoyo – Ajase-Ipo highways are under surveillance by personnel to ensure the safety of those traveling to and from the state’s capital minding the increase in the volume of traffic during the period of celebration.
Speaking on the reason for early deployment, he said it was observed that a lot of ‘emergency’ cattle selling points had sprung up within the metropolis thus the need to nip the traffic menace such actions might caused in the bud.
The Authority boss, charging road users to be safety conscious before, during and after the celebration by obeying all traffic rules and regulations, also warned traders to desist from using the road to carry out their activities as this would attract severe sanctions if caught.
While urging transport operators and travellers to avoid night travels, he pledged the Authority’s continuous selfless service to the people of the state in line with Governor Abdulrahaman Abdulrasaq’s vision for a new Kwara.
PIAK
