By Albert Akpor
LAGOS—SECURITY in and around military barracks in Lagos has been heightened following the New Year eve bomb blast at the Mogadishu Barracks Abuja that claimed several  lives and injured many.

Investigations revealed that the usual ‘stop and search’ at the gates of entry and exit of military formations in the state have been stepped up as visitors with no cogent reason into the barracks were turned back.  Among the affected military formations were Bonny Camp, Abalti Barracks,  the Nigeria Armed Forces Resettlement Centre,  Oshodi,  Signal Barracks  Mile 2, Ikeja Cantonment  and  Ojo barracks.

At the Sam Ethnam Air Force Barracks and Navy Barracks Ojo, stern looking military personnel manned the gates while others took strategic positions. Visitors without  authorised gate passes to navy barracks Ojo were promptly turned back while those cleared to enter the barracks had their vehicles thorougly searched.

Even the various mammy markets within the barracks were not spared as armed personnel peeped into social joints and questioned unusual movements.

‘It’s normal’

However, some of the personnel who talked on condition of anonymity said there was nothing strange in what they were doing, adding that the present state of security in the country has warranted strict compliance.

One of them said: “There is nothing new in what we are doing as all the military barracks across the globe are restricted zones. Perhaps however, we are being strict to some level because of the general security situation in the country.

“People may see it as hostility from us but that is not it.  Whatever we do is based on directives from the headquarters.”

Efforts to get the Director of Army Information, Brigadier P. Olukolade, was not successful. But a source close to his office said the directive was from the defence headquarters following the spate of bombing in the country especially the recent one at the Mogadishu barracks in Abuja.

The source said: “I think what the men are doing is in order; it was a special directive from the defence headquarters to ensure that movements in and out of military barracks  are screened and restricted for now.”