By Mitaire Ikpen
ABUJA — Following fears that the  Islamic sect, Boko Haram, may strike during the Easter celebration, the Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) took over security of all the churches in the city on Easter Sunday, yesterday.

Prior to the Easter holidays, security agencies were on red alert over intelligence reports that the sect has concluded plans to attack Christian worshippers in undisclosed churches during the holy week up till Easter Sunday.

Consequently, Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, placed all zonal and area commands across the country on red alert and directed their commanders to deploy adequate police personnel in all places of worship during the Easter period.

Vanguard investigations at most churches in the FCT, yesterday, revealed that newly posted FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aderenle Shinaba deployed no fewer than 10 armed policemen to mount 24-hour surveillance and patrols in churches.

Vanguard also gathered that the deployment took effect since last Thursday, in compliance with the IG’s directive.

The decision to deploy armed personnel to the churches, Vanguard learnt, was to complement the electronic monitoring of movement and activities of people in the FCT using the close circuit TV cameras (CCTVs) which have been mounted in all nooks and crannies of the territory.

The infrared-fitted CCTV cameras clearly pick images and movement of people even at night and immediately transmit same to the control centre, located at the Force Headquarters, where experts have been trained to monitor all parts of the FCT round the clock.

Visits to big congregations in the FCT like the First Baptist Church, Garki; Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Catholic Pro-Cathedral, Area 3, Garki; Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama and the Church of Assumption, Asokoro revealed the presence of armed policemen on surveillance in the church premises.

Similar situation was observed at several other churches in the city.

Response to intelligence reports

FCT Police Commissioner, Mr. Shinaba, told Vanguard that being an old hand in the FCT Command, he chose to leave nothing to chance given the antecedents of Boko Haram attacks. He said the deployment of policemen in the churches was a response to intelligence reports rather than rumours.

He said: “The decision to deploy policemen is routine rather than based on the rumour being peddled.  We don’t act on rumour.  There will always be rumour, we act on intelligence and that is exactly what we did.

Residents desert Abuja

Meanwhile, fears of possible Boko Haram attack during the Easter holidays forced many Abuja residents to travel out of town as the Abuja metropolis was virtually deserted and bereft of its usual heavy vehicular traffic.

Amusement spots like the Millennium Park in the Three Arms Zone and other recreational centres visited revealed low patronage as people simply avoided them over fears of terrorist attack by the Boko Haram sect.

Corruption worse than Boko Haram  – Onaiyekan

In his Easter Sunday sermon at the Holy Friday at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, the Archbishop of Abuja, John Onaiyekan, described corrupt political office holders and top civil servants as worse and more dangerous than the Boko Haram.

Onaiyekan said the corruption of top government functionaries and holders of top political offices wreak more devastation on the nation than the scourge of Boko Haram.

He deplored the situation in the country where a few top political leaders amassed wealth so shamelessly to the extent that “they smell of fraud and shamefully carry themselves about without shame.

“Nigerians should know that the activities of these few corrupt individuals are far worse than the killings being carried out by Boko Haram.”

“While we call on the Boko Haram and their sponsors to retrace their steps and eschew violence, we must note that corruption is far worse than what they are doing in the country and this period of solemnity is a great moment offered by the Church for people to make restitution, repent of their evil deeds and follow the foot steps of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

He charged both Christian and Islamic religious leaders to preach the virtues of love, tolerance, perseverance and humility to their adherents in order to promote respect for human dignity and welfare.