By KINGSLEY OMONOBI, DANIEL IDONOR & NDAHI MARAMA
ABUJA – FOLLOWING last Thursdays’ bombing at the Police headquarters and access to new intelligence reports, the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Abubakar Ringim, yesterday, summoned all the Assistant Inspectors General of the Police in the six zones and police commissioners of the 36 states and Abuja, to an emergency security meeting.

This came as the death toll in Boko Haram attack in Maiduguri last Sunday has increased to five Vanguard learnt that the new intelligence reports revealed that Boko Haram, the Islamic sect responsible for the Force Headquarters bombing, has concluded arrangements to carry out similar bombings of State Police Command headquarters as well as that of the Zonal AIGs.

It was gathered that this was to send further signals that the Police authorities who were presently detaining 58 Boko Haram suspects cannot stop their cause.

Vanguard gathered that the IGP would, at the emergency meeting, stress the need for the police commissioners to be at red alert always and proactive, as the threat of the Boko Haram sect and their sympathizers was real and must not be taken for granted.

Giving an insight into what the meeting would discuss in camera, a source said: “Intelligence reports have shown that Boko Haram ware planning more attacks on police commands and other security agencies as well. They want to prove to security agencies that they cannot be stopped, that they can reach any where or target that they deem might be standing on their way. And the best way to stop this is to be proactive. This and measures aimed at checkmating them will be the import of the meeting.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy has commenced moves to secure the remains of one of its officers, Navy Captain Ugochukwu Ezeora (rtd), who was caught in the blast at the Force Headquarters.

The officer who was on a routine visit to the Force Headquarters, was burnt beyond recognition but for the plate number of his car, and some Christian pamphlets which he usually distributed to friends, officers and membersof his church.

Vanguard recalls that it took the combined efforts of the Fire Service, NEMA and the Police to use implements like axes hammer, and other heavy weapons to cut open portions of the vehicle before the charred remains of the officer were removed.

A Navy commodore (names with_held), is said to be the one tasked with the duty o securing the release of the remains of the late Navy Captain which were deposited at the Asokoro General Hospital.

Meanwhile security has been heightened at the Ship House building of the Ministry of Defence in Abuja with bomb scanning machines deployed and serious checks being conducted on both staff and visitors to the ministry.

The same tough measures and full scale screening have been directed in all military formations across the country with the top hierarchy of the Military Police, the Directorate of Military Intelligence and their equivalent in the sister services.

Death toll in Boko Haram attack in Maiduguri rises to 5

Meantime, the death toll in Sunday’s Boko Haram attack at a relaxation centre in Gomari, Maiduguri has risen to five. Two unidentified victims had died on Sunday after the attack, while five others who suffered gunshot injuries were rushed to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, UMTH.

A senior officer at the hospital said that three of the injured victims died in the early hours of Monday, adding that two other victims were still lying critically ill at the emergency unit of the hospital.

Jonathan to strengthen national security

President Goodluck Jonathan has, however, reassured Nigerians that the Federal Government would strengthen national security to avert a repeat of last Thursday’s suicide bomb attack on the police headquarters.

The President gave the assurance when members of the family of the late Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria’s former Prime Minister, visited him at the State House.

He assured that the administration was taking steps to ensure the safety of all Nigerians.