Checks revealed that some high profile undercover agents and the President’s advance squad have arrived in the state with specific operations order to execute before, during and after the visit.
Among them, our reporter’s investigation revealed, are the anti-bomb and terrorism squads, sniffer dogs’ handlers, Air force operatives, VIP protection personnel including operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), and military intelligence officers.
Police and military presence has been increased in the state capital, Benin City as stop-and-search operations are being conducted on vehicles and pedestrians with suspected bags.
It was also learnt that operatives of Ugbor, Oba market and Aideyan police stations all within Benin metropolis arrested no fewer than 21 persons during a combined raids on flashpoints last Friday.
The Nigeria Airspace, around the state it was scooped, would also be locked during the visit.
Further checks revealed that the state commissioner of police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo conveyed an enlarged inter-agency security meeting where strategic operation orders were said to have been adopted, perfected and formalized for the president’s visit.
The security gathering which lasted several hours at the state police command headquarters, Benin City, had some heads of security agencies in attendance, including the Edo State Director of DSS, Mr. Halilu Ibrahim.
In an exclusive chat with our reporter shortly after the meeting, CP Johnson Kokumo stated that adequate security arrangements had been made for the president’s visit.
“The visit of the president is going to be fine. In fact, one of the finest. There is no course for fear. We have done it before and we have the capacity to do it again.
“We are not making it a one-man show, we have synergy with other sister security agencies. The DSS, military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC), even the state owned traffic management agencies like EDSTMA and PUWOV,” Kokumo stated.
He however added that some areas in the state capital would be closed to traffic during the president’s visit, assuring that alternative routes would be created to avoid inflicting unnecessary pains on motorists.
President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to commission Edo-Azura Power Plant in Ihovboro and declared opened the Chief of army staff annual conference in Benin City, during the visit on Tuesday, November 27, 2018.
