The Federal Government has ordered the reactivation of 22 border security posts in a bid to curb the growing wave of terrorism in the country.The affected borders include those the country shares with Chad Republic, Niger Republic, Republic of Benin and Cameroon.The decision to re-activate the border posts was said to have been taken at an extraordinary meeting between Nigerias security chiefs and representatives of the neighbouring countries in Abuja.President Goodluck Jonathan has already ratified the decision, a Presidency source told one of our correspondents on Sunday.The source said the reopening of the security posts would go a long way in curtailing violence in the country. The neglect of the border posts is believed to have encouraged smuggling of light arms and other trans-border crimes.The reopening of the border security posts is also expected to check the influx of illegal alliens into the country.It was gathered that Nigeria will supervise the border patrols across the 22 posts in partnership with security personnel in the listed countries, who will be mostly trained in Nigeria.Already, security authorities in the three countries have met with their Nigerian counterparts and pledged their full co-operation in the fight against trans-border crimes and proliferation of light weapons.The fresh approach to security issues in Nigeria is coming few days after Jonathan directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies to volunteer capable hands to be trained by security forces on counter terrorism and emergency response strategies.The officials will manage related security issues in their respective MDAs to complement the efforts of key security agencies in the country.It was also learnt that the National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoye Azazi, has ordered a 24-hour surveillance around all hotels that have over 50-rooms while all public infrastructure and private recreational centres are now to be manned by detectives.Meanwhile, there are fears that riot policemen have deserted their duty posts in Maiduguri, Borno State, and other cities in the North-East.A source in the Presidency told one of our correspondents in Abuja on Sunday that many policemen fled their posts in the wake of frequent attacks by members of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram.The source, who requested not to be named said, "Some of the policemen, especially MOPOL have left their posts service because they were not getting the kind of strong support they expected from the government. Some of them (riot policemen) were being detained for killing Boko Haram; the sect enjoys the support of top northern politicians with influence in government."He explained that apart from the five senior policemen currently on trial in Abuja for their alleged involvement in the murder of Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf, in 2009, many other policemen were being detained for killing members of the sect.According to the source, some of the policemen deserted their duty posts to avoid being a victim of Boko Haram attacks or to escape from possible detention for killing the sect members."When some of the sect members were arrested, their supporters used their connections to effect their release and this has weakened the resolve of the policemen to fight the Islamic militants because the government has not exhibited the necessary determination to show that it wants to end the activities of the group," he said.However, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Yemi Ajayi, denied that some policemen had resigned or deserted their duty posts."No policeman has left his duty post or resigned because of Boko Haram and no policeman is being detained for carrying out his duties, except the five officers facing trial over the killing of Yusuf," he said.
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