Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, has assured Nigerians and residents in the country, particularly, those who will be travelling or joining friends and relatives in public places for the Christmas and New Year celebrations, of their safety, during and after the festivities.

The IGP, similarly, reassured those who will be plying roads, waterways, airports and rail tracks that proactive measures have been put in place to ensure they arrive their destinations unharmed by criminal elements.

Police spokesman, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, said: “To achieve this, the IGP has ordered Assistant Inspectors General of Police in charge of zonal police commands and Commissioners of Police in charge of states, as well as heads of tactical, intelligence and operational units to ensure heavy deployments of officers in uniforms on highways, rail lines, waterways, airports and at various recreational centres within their jurisdictions.

“Officers whose jurisdiction include big cities with heavy traffic gridlocks have been tasked to deploy officers on motorbikes to monitor traffic and prevent traffic robberies.

“The IGP has, similarly, directed that officers should engage in visibility policing by ensuring that those on routine duties are in uniform and their vehicles marked with the names of their Divisions, Commands or Squadrons for proper identification by members of the public.

“All officers are to ensure strict compliance with standard operating procedures for their specific types of assignment while respect for fundamental rights of all persons is sacrosanct.

“The Inspector General of Police, therefore, felicitates with the Nigerian Christian community as they celebrate Christmas, while urging them to emulate the character of Christ. He equally wished all Nigerians a prosperous new year in advance.”