IG BANS POLITICAL GATHERINGS AT AIRPORTS

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has banned all forms of political, social and religious gatherings at all the nation’s airports, stressing that they are exclusive security zones.The police authorities said the ban was necessary to avert security breaches and protect critical infrastructure, travellers, aircrew, airport staff and personnel at the nation’s local and international airports.
Rising from a strategic security meeting at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday, the Police High Command directed the airport command’s Commissioners of Police and Commissioners of Police in states hosting the airports to ensure that, in line with international best practices, firm security measures were taken to safeguard the airports and their critical infrastructure.
This, it said, was to prevent a situation where the airports were turned into places of political assemblies, religious worship and other social receptions.
A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba on Wednesday stated that no assembly would be permitted within and around airport premises, including tarmacs, lounges and other sensitive security points.
“While the Force is not unaware of the constitutional rights of Nigerians to freedom of movement and assembly, it makes bold to state that the enjoyment of these rights must be situated within the bounds of the law and appropriate civil behaviour.
“The Force therefore implores Nigerians to cooperate with the police in their effort at improving the maintenance of security at all the nooks and crannies of the airports,” it stated.
The police called on the elite to educate and enlighten their admirers and followers on the need to abide by the rules, noting that failure to comply would attract appropriate legal sanctions.
Source: Punch