The Nigerian Navy has put its men on the alert following intelligence report that the Boko Haram insurgents are planning an attack on government’s installations in Lagos using disabled persons.
To this end, military personnel have been put on guard to screen physically challenged persons especially those using tricycles around security facilities.
The development, it was learnt, was the reason for the arrest of a physically challenged man suspected to be member of the sect at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos over alleged possession of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).
A military source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were asked to pay attention to physically challenged persons using tricycles, adding that the information was based on intelligence report.
However, official confirmation could not be gotten from defence spokesman, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, as calls to his telephone were not answered.
But while fielding questions from journalists at the Naval Air Base, Ojo on the development, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command (WNC), Rear Admiral Sanmi Alade, said the military was fully at alert to counter and prevent any act of terrorism.
“I do not know where you got your information from, but what I know, is that we are fully prepared to prevent and counter any act of terrorism, said Alade. Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, has appealed to Nigerians to support the military towards ending insurgency in the country.
Obanikoro made the call at the Naval Air Base, Ojo at the end of his two-day familiarisation tour of naval units and commands in Lagos.
The minister said the massive refurbishing of platforms was evidence of the right investments being made in the military.
Expressing hope that things will be better, Obanikoro commended the Navy for putting measures in place to curb the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) at the Navy Reference Hospital, Ojo by isolating those suspected of the disease from the mainstream patients.
To avoid unnecessary discrimination, people are sat outside and checked to be sure they are not likely carriers after which one can graduate to the main hospital reception to be attended to.
Some of you by now would have formed your own opinion after seeing things for yourselves. Those who thought we have been sleeping all along can now also whisper to others that we are not sleeping. We have been working. We may not be there yet, but hopefully, we will get there.
I am happy with the direction we are going, and so, I plead that we should all find a place in our hearts to support our military and security agencies.
If the military had kept to its core mandate and not dabbled into politics, they would have gone far ahead of the entire society. But in the last 15 years of democracy, they have done quite a lot and deserve our commendation said Obanikoro.