Security operatives including Nigerian Soldiers, Police, Civil Defence and others have been deployed to strategic locations in Cross River State.
DAILY POST gathered that the operatives were deployed to some hidden places, along Calabar Road, Marian Road, government establishments, media houses and other areas suspected to be flashpoints for hoodlums.
It was learned that some persons suspected to be hoodlums; kidnappers, armed robbers and militants within and outside the state were planning to unleash mayhem, vandalize government infrastructures and steal valuables under the auspices of the End SARS protest.
Government and private workers were ordered to close offices to avoid attacks. Students in secondary and primary schools were ordered to leave their schools before closing time while banks and other establishments have closed unceremoniously.
Meanwhile, residents of the state have deserted the streets as most of the commercial and private cars were also absent from the roads. A taxi driver who calls himself Akpan said, “I don’t want what happened to some people in other parts of the country to reach him. I bought this vehicle under hire purchase and anything happens to it I am finished” he stated.
At various schools visited, a student of Waddel Training Institution, Magnus said, “We were asked to leave because they said that the intelligence gathered was not palatable and closing before time was the only way out to guarantee safety”.
When contacted, on Friday via phone, the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, DSP Irene Ugbo said that the deployment of security operatives was to tame hoodlums who are planning to invade the state.
“In view of these protests all over the country, we don’t want to have any issue in Cross River, the Commissioner of Police said to be more proactive was better than waiting for the hoodlums to enter before you start running up and down.
“All that you have seen are strategies put in place by the Commissioner of Police, CP Abdulkadir Jimoh to prevent any occurrence. We are ready for any eventuality, if you look around, you will see that our men and other security agencies are placed on red alert.
On any group or person pencilled down as a security threat, the PPRO said, “For now no, but the intelligence report we gathered was that some militants are trying to penetrate the state through Akwa Ibom State besides the protest. I believe that you saw what happened in Akwa Ibom State so we cannot allow that to happen here. The Lives of citizens here are more paramount to the Police” she stated.
