Various security agencies across the states said they have intensified efforts to secure lives and properties ahead of the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations in the country.

Reports from Kogi, Edo, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Osun, on Saturday indicated that security operatives would engage in a stop-and-search exercise, waterways and highway patrol.

Bomb squad personnel and officers of the explosive ordinance department in Oyo State had been deployed to ensure safety of lives and properties in churches and mosques.

The Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, in Ibadan told one of our correspondents that street carnivals and use of fireworks remained banned.

“We have identified all the exit and entry points and we have deployed our men to those places with the order to conduct thorough stop-and-search. Churches and mosques are being manned by plain-clothed policemen,” Ajisebutu said.

In Ogun, the police spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, stated that the security agency would work with other agencies like the Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps and the men of the Operation Mesa, among others to prevent crimes.

He also identified Ogijo, Ilisan-Remo, Ijebu Igbo, Sagamu and Ijoko as flashpoints.

In Kogi, the Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said that the police would pay more attention to Okene Road and Ajaokuta for their vulnerability to violence, adding that plain-clothed officers had been deployed across the state.

Similarly, the Bayelsa State Police Command said as part of the measures to check crimes during the festive periods, it had deployed policemen to strategic roads and waterways.

According to its spokesperson, Asinim Butswat, intelligence gathering has been stepped up in the state.

Also in Edo and Niger, the police said they would increase their highway patrols.

According to the Niger Police Command’s public relations officer, Abubakar Marafa, at least 5, 000 policemen have been deployed to protect mosques, churches and recreation centres.

In Osun, the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Tajudeen Balogun, said its uniformed and undercover officers had been sent to parks, event centres and other public places in the state.

All waterfronts in Rivers were identified by the police as flashpoints.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Mohammad, said, “We have identified some flashpoints and we may not mention all of them to you. The Command has also identified the waterfronts in the state as some of the flashpoints in the state.

“We have increased the number of vehicles on patrol and if you can observe, nightlife has returned to Rivers State. Go to Casablanca, D-Line; nightlife is back in these areas. The Command will continue to work round the clock, especially during the Yuletide.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command said it had placed a ban on street carnivals, processions and other avoidable gatherings during the Christmas and New Year periods in the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joe Offor, said, “We got an intelligence report from the government that criminal elements such as the terrorists are planning to hit soft targets during the season. But we believe in proactive policing and this is why the government is placing a ban on soft gatherings such as carnivals, processions and the likes. We are not saying people should not celebrate but public gatherings without adequate security provision should not hold.

“The ban on crackers and fireworks across the state still holds. We are also going to increase our vehicular and foot patrols on the roads.”