A team of Nigerian Tribune correspondents in Lagos recently covered major public institutions in the state to check the level of security preparedness in the face of constant and sustained suspicion, and projections that the commercial nerve-centre could be the next major target of the blood-thirsty insurgency group, Boko Haram.
Besides some pockets of crimes, which are not uncommon in big cities such as Lagos, not a few believe that, of late, ‘Lagosians’ have been enjoying some relative peace. The corporate feeling among residents of this former federal capital city had always been that being the commercial and economic nerve centre of the country, to a large extent, still allowed it to enjoy some immunity that would make it impregnable to any terror attack.
Interestingly, all these seem to be changing now. Most ‘Lagosians’ no longer sleep with both eyes closed, a development some would readily attribute to the doomsday prediction of the United States of America about a likely terror attack on some major hotels and high net-worth public institutions in the city, which got the Inside Lagos team checking on security arrangements in such places.
Shopping malls
“Honestly, it was after reading that report that it dawned on me that the city could be vulnerable after all. And since then I have decided to take my destiny and those of my family members in my hands,” said Mr Okoye, a business man, who had taken his family for shopping at the popular Ikeja City Mall, in a chat with Inside Lagos.
Curiously, one of the major steps he had taken since the prediction was to outlaw family members from attending public functions.
But when confronted with the fact that the shopping mall was also a public place and, in consequence, could also be vulnerable, Okoye argued that the ambience and the environment was more controlled and secured than other public places.
Okoye may have reasons to be optimistic about the level of security in the mall. A visit to the mall showed that the management of the mall was not taking the issue of security lightly.
For instance, there was a noticeable security presence at major gates leading to the mall when Inside Lagos visited the mall. Though none of the staff in the mall who spoke with Inside Lagos on the condition of anonymity would admit that security was being beefed for fear of attack, investigations revealed that the management of the mall decided to be pro-active by enlisting the services of the military within the complex in response to the country’s present security challenges.
Motor parks
Though the Lagos State government has always re-assured passengers and traders at the different motor parks in the state, a visit to most of the motor parks in the state, however, revealed that the state government has left the task of securing the parks, solely to transport unions in the state. Practically all the efforts at forestalling attacks at the motor parks were done by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). At many of the motor parks, including Ojota, Iyana Ipaja, Agege, Ikotun, Oshodi, and others, members of the NURTW, whom Inside Lagos later found out were Special Task Force members, were seen screening the luggage of inter-state travelers with hand-held metal detectors. It was, however, not the case with intra-state passengers
Executives at the different motor parks declined to comment on what the state government had done to protect lives and properties at motors parks. Inside Lagos investigations however revealed that it has been all of directive and laws by the state Ministry of Transport.
Some of the passengers who spoke with Inside Lagos stated that most of the parks in the state were not well protected against Boko Haram or any other form of attack. They urged the state government to take drastic action as regards beefing up security.
A passenger, who simply identified himself as Andrew, while speaking with Inside Lagos said, “Let me be sincere with you, the state government is not doing much to protect the parks. I cannot even see a single effort by the state government to protect the park against Boko Haram.”
He continued that, “The introduction of the task force and metal detector devices are not enough. The government should go beyond these and fortify the parks. The way Boko Haram has been operating, I don’t think that the NURTW or any other transport union can handle them.”
A transport union member at the Ojota motor park, who pleaded anonymity, while speaking with Inside Lagos said, “My brother, let me be sincere with you. The few things that were done to protect the parks were through self efforts. We contribute money to do anything about security and it is not supposed to be so. The government should invest in the security of lives at motor parks.”
The transport union member, however, added that most members of the union were more security conscious now as a result of the campaigns embarked upon by the leadership of the union.
“We screen passengers and also have the task force on ground,” he stated.
Markets
Checks made at various markets did not reveal any difference in security measures that have been put in place. It was business as usual at the popular Idumota market on the Island, where a mammoth crowd of buyers and sellers were seen scurrying around.
Goods were being brought into the market and equally taken out of it without anyone bothering to know what the contents of those goods were.
It was ‘bumper-to-bumper’ human traffic at the Oyingbo market, while the ‘new’ Tejuosho market in Yaba did not also show any glimpse of improved security. It was business as usual at the Oke-Ode, along the Lagos-Abeokuta Way, where scores of young ‘abokis’ (a general parlance for males of northern extraction) were busy selling yam, ground dried pepper and other items, either in wheelbarrows or simply in heaps on polythene materials spread on the ground. Others not selling were busy serving as ‘mekaya,’ whose job is to swarm round anyone in the market to help them carry loads.
Repeated calls put across to the ‘Iyaloja-General’, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, did not sail through, as her number proved to be unavailable. But when contacted, the Secretary-General of Lagos markets, Deacon Lanre Ajayi, declined to make comments. He insisted that the right person to comment was the ‘Iyaloja-General’.
Computer Village
The ever busy Computer Village in Ikeja was full of people, mostly young men and women who were neck deep in diverse business activities. But no physical security measure was visibly spotted, aside a makeshift police post where a group of police officers were spotted.
Hotels
The security situation in most Lagos hotels is inadequate as investigation revealed that they still lack modern technology to detect hidden explosive devices.
A visit by Inside Lagos to the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, on Wednesday, revealed that visitors’ cars and buses were checked with metal detectors instead of the modern scanner usually placed on speed-breakers.
At the main entrance of the hotel, the security personnel declined to comment on the level of security provision.
Efforts to speak with chief security officer of the hotel proved abortive as the front desk officers said he was indisposed at the time of the visit.
A visit to Eko Hotel and Suites revealed similar scenario.
It was observed that a metal detector was placed on a pavement close to the second vehicle entrance.
The security personnel at the gate were busy directing vehicles to parking space after conducting a check on the vehicle.
The only security personnel who spoke with our correspondent did so under condition of anonymity, assuring that the hotel was doing all it could to provide adequate security for its customers.
Attempts to speak with the chief security officer at the hotel also proved abortive as he was said to be busy attending to other matters.
It was a different scenario at the Silverbird Galleria, as heavy security presence and men with garrets were seen securing the place.
Visitors’ cars were parked close to main road due to lack of adequate parking space. One of the bouncers stated that the garrets were the only security tool available at their disposals.
National Arts Theatre
The situation was not different at the National Arts Theatre. There were no indications that any special security measures had been put in place. For instance, there was no check point at the main gate. Visitors were allowed to move in and out freely. However, the police officer in charge of the National Theatre Police Post assured Inside Lagos that his men were on the alert. “We are on red alert,” he said. “Some of my men are in uniform; others are not. So, you won’t even know them. We are always on the lookout for suspicious-looking people.” The general manager of the National Theatre, however, was not available for comment.
Airport
In order not to be caught napping, the Federal Government has continued to put up additional security efforts to safeguard lives and property of travelers across the nation’s airports.
Prior to now, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), in conjunction with other relevant aviation agencies had further beamed their searchlight on safety and security at the airports in view of the increased wave of terrorism around the global aviation community through several logistics that will counter any terrorism act.
For instance, the country’s airports, including the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), have had their security network upgraded.
The determination to beef up the security has witnessed the installation of security gadgets such as metal detectors, Rhapiscans and walk through security machines. In complementing security at the four operational international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt, the FAAN recently announced the introduction of sniffer dogs and anti-terrorism squads in order to enhance safety and security.
Besides these, all military and civilian protocol officers have been barred from the restricted areas, including the arrival and baggage reclaim halls at the MMA, as part of efforts to beef up security at the airports following the continued insecurity in the country.
Apart from the installation of the security gadgets, the combination of all the law enforcement agencies at the airport including the Air Force, police, FAAN security men have embarked on 24 hours patrol of the airports to check undesirable elements that may want to unleash havoc through any of the airports.
Speaking on this, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mr Yakubu Dati, said the measure, which would be extended to the other airports in the country later, was in line with the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.
His words: “A comprehensive audit of security and surveillance has been conducted on aircraft, terminals and security personnel to align them to standards in the industry.
But despite the several efforts, travelers including other airport users have continued to express fears over their safety and security at the airports
To most stakeholders, the government, through the FAAN, still has more to do in preventing the airports from being targeted by terrorists.
They have described the airports as being porous, a situation which has been attributed to the many incidences of stowaways recorded in the recent past when teenagers had succeeded in beating security apparatus at the airport to hide themselves in the cargo compartment of some aircraft.
Places of worship
With the insurgency originally founded on religion, with Christianity seen as the main target, a claim that has also been consistently propagated by the Boko Haram leadership, churches in Lagos appear to take the possibility of an imminent security breaches in the state more seriously than those of Islam faith. Apart from having visible police presence on their premises, private security guards have been deployed at the entrance points, with worshippers being elaborately frisked, especially during special programmes with tendency to have first-timers in attendance.
However, it was observed at a Pentecostal church in Magodo Estate that known faces among the members were being allowed entry without any forms of security checks, which a member observed as an anomaly.
“People change. Seeing someone in church everyday doesn’t mean he or she is a genuine Christian. In this age that people worship money than God, temptations are easily fallen into. Even pastors should be checked. Those doing it (insurgency) in the North are supposed men of God”, the worshipper, who craved anonymity submitted.
It was also noticed at another denomination that worshippers parked their vehicles very close to the church building which in itself, was just a few steps away from the fence due to the limited land space. Any detonations of explosives there during a church service could be catastrophic.
Inside Lagos also observed inadequate security arrangement at open crusades. One that took place potential around Ikeja was so close to the road that a suicide bomber could easily drive into the crowd and create a tragedy of epic proportions.
A pastor told Inside Lagos that God remained the ultimate protector, adding that instead of focusing so much on human arrangements security-wise, the church should rise as a united body of Christ to take the battle to the Boko Haram for a destructive ending.
House of Assembly Complex
The provision of adequate security in and around the Lagos State of Assembly complex in Alausa has always been treated as a priority. One can conveniently say that the Assembly complex is located within the precinct of Governor’s Office, where Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola presides over the affairs of the state. Within the Lagos State House of Assembly, a mosque is located, where Jumat services are held every Friday. It is a religious service that Muslim faithful, including the Speaker, Honourable Adeyemi Ikuforiji, the lawmakers, the management and staff, equally attend.
Religious faithful come from far and near and sometimes too, the state governor, Raji Fashola, does attend. The Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Agbesola, was there, penultimate Friday, for the Jumat service.
Notwithstanding, the Lagos State House of Assembly has always been fortified to ward-off any attacks by anyone or group of persons. It is even more so whenever protesters, which are common features in democracy, come around to make one demand or another on government.
But this is unlike what obtains elsewhere in other mosques, especially during Friday Jumat service. Visits to mosques designated for Jumat service in areas such as Ojodu-Berger and Ketu cannot be said to be fortified, security wise.
Efforts to reach the Lagos State Information Commissioner, Lateef Ibirogba on the level of the state’s preparedness for the Boko Haram threat, proved abortive as his phone was switched off. Spokesperson for Governor Babatunde Fashola, Hakeem Bello, directed Inside Lagos to security agencies in the state, on how prepared the state was.
The Lagos Police Command when contacted, expressed its readiness against any invasion, stressing that detectives had been deployed to most public places in the state.