The Jigawa State Police Command has vowed to arrest anyone attempting to disrupt activities at the venue of President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the state on Tuesday.
The President is expected to visit Jigawa for the first time since assuming office on May 29, 2023, to commission projects and engage in political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The planned visit has triggered heightened preparations in Dutse, the state capital, and other parts of Jigawa.
Speaking at a press briefing at the command headquarters in Dutse on Monday, the Commissioner of Police, Tijjani Murtala, disclosed that security personnel had been deployed to strategic locations to ensure a peaceful visit.
He said, “The security arrangement involved personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Department of State Services and other supporting security agencies.”
Murtala explained that the command had begun preparations with consultations involving relevant stakeholders, followed by operational planning and the deployment of officers across key locations.
He added that “a meeting had already been held with commanders of the various security agencies to strengthen collaboration and ensure effective coordination before, during and after the visit.”
According to the police commissioner, an operational order had also been drawn up to guide the exercise, while “additional personnel, including Police Mobile Force officers from other commands and tactical formations, were being deployed.”
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Although the security assessment had not identified any major threat to the presidential visit, Murtala assured residents that adequate measures had been put in place to safeguard lives and property.
Jigawa State remains very peaceful, and we commend the people for their law-abiding nature. We assure them that we are going to protect them and their properties.
“We will not allow any disgruntled elements to infiltrate the gathering or take advantage of the President’s visit to cause any security breach,” he added.
The commissioner also cautioned against criminal activities that could occur during the gathering, particularly pickpocketing, phone snatching and other petty offences.
He revealed that, “Plain-clothes intelligence officers would be deployed within the crowd to identify and apprehend suspected criminals, while other operatives would maintain surveillance around designated venues.”
Murtala noted that despite the absence of significant terrorism and banditry threats in the state, the command remained alert to possible security challenges.
He further maintained that the deployment of additional security personnel was part of routine preparations for the presidential visit and had no connection with political campaign activities.
The police commissioner reaffirmed the command’s readiness to collaborate with other security agencies to ensure a peaceful outing for the President.
He urged residents to support security operatives and promptly report suspicious movements to prevent any disruption during the visit.