Presidency Tightens Security Against Terror Attack On Villa

All vehicles with tinted glasses are to be searched before being allowed into the Presidential Villa, the Presidency said yesterday.

The Nation report continues:

It is all part of the measures to forestall terror attacks at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, according to the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to President Muhammadu Buhari, B Abubakar. In a January 26 circular, he directed all tinted cars and other vehicles to be thoroughly searched.

According to him, most of the major attacks by terrorist groups around the world against high profile targets were done with hijacked vehicles or tinted vehicles.

The circular titled: “Use of tinted cars around the Presidential Villa, Abuja” reads: “It has been observed that some staff of the Presidential Villa driving tinted cars, especially security personnel are in the habit of refusing to wind down their windscreen for security checks before driving into the Villa.

“It is most worrisome that some of them use the excuse of either driving official cars or driving VIPs to justify their acts.

“This act, which is not in tandem with standard security drill and procedure, poses serious threat to the safety and security of the Villa.

“It is important to note that the insistence of security operatives at the pilot gates to properly screen vehicles coming into the Villa whether tinted or not tinted, official or unofficial is not out of place.

“Therefore, there is need for all to subject themselves and their vehicles to security checks as the case may be, so as to prevent unscrupulous elements from exploring the situation to launch attacks on the Villa.

“More so, that most of the major attacks by terrorists groups on high profile targets around the world are being carried out using hijacked vehicles or vehicles with tinted glasses.”