Following the bomb blasts that rocked the Northern part of the country on Friday, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, on Saturday night ordered his men to immediately tighten up security in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.The meeting was held less than 24 hours after the fundamentalist Boko Haram sect reportedly told the Associated Press that more attacks are on the way.Ringim, who held the closed door conference with some Commissioners of Police and other senior officers reportedly ordered that 3,000 policemen should be deployed to places of worship in Abuja on Sunday (today).The IG, it was gathered, was reluctant to ignore the threat of the sect because of its dangerous antecedents.Two of the Commissioners of Police who attended the meeting confirmed this to SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday night.Speaking with our correspondent around 10pm, one of them said, Yes it is true that we just finished the meeting but the details were not for the consumption of the press.When pressed further for details, he said, The IG has ordered us to beef up security in Abuja. You know what has been happening in the North. The multiple attacks on Friday night wont be treated with kids gloves. We have to be proactive. Yes, Abujas security is going to be water tight as from tomorrow (Sunday).It was further gathered that Ringim specifically told the Police Anti-Bomb Squad that the challenge of keeping Abuja safe was majorly their responsibility.The source added, We are also going to have plain-clothes policemen on the streets. Nothing is being left to chance. Cars would be better scrutinised while people will be better monitored.No fewer than 67 people, including soldiers, policemen and civilians were killed in the bomb blasts that rocked Damaturu and Potiskum in Yobe State on Friday evening.The number of injured persons was also put at over 100.The state police headquarters, Anti Terrorists Squad base, federal secretariat complex and First Bank were destroyed by the heavy blast from the explosions.Many security vehicles, including anti bomb and anti-terrorist squad operational vehicles were also razed.The Commissioner of police, Mr. Suleiman Lawal, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the attacks were carried out by suicide bombers, but failed to confirm the number of casualties.While NAN put the causality figure at 53, the APclaimed 67.Shortly after the incidents occurred, the fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram, allegedly claimed responsibility for the attacks.The AP quoted a Boko Haram spokesperson, Abul-Qaqa, who said, More attacks are on the way. We will continue attacking federal government formations until security forces stop their excesses on our members and vulnerable civilians.Meanwhile, fresh disturbances erupted on Friday night in Kurmi Bi Village near Zonkwa in the Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State as one person was shot dead and another seriously injured by unknown gunmen in another attack behind the palace of the traditional ruler of the area, Agwam Bajju.Our correspondent gathered that during the attack which occurred at midnight, the unknown gunmen shot indiscriminately at the people of the village resulting in the death of one of the victims.Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has condemned the attacks that led to the loss of lives and property of citizens saying the attacks could not be in the name of religion, but a pursuit of an unholy agenda and a violation of the spirit of the season that signifies love, brotherhood, friendship and good neighbourliness.In response to these sad events, Jonathan put off the appearance at his brothers wedding, which he was scheduled to attend in Bayelsa State.He also directed security agencies to arrest perpetrators of the heinous acts and assured Nigerians that all would be done to ensure safety of lives and properties.
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