Boko Haram: Fear grips stakeholders over threat to bomb Apapa ports

Despite assurances from the Nigeria Police of in­creased security within the Apapa ports, fear has enveloped workers, residents, traders and other Nigerians with businesses within the port city fol­lowing intelligence report received by the Police of possible attacks on the nation’s maritime facility by the dreaded Boko Haram Islamist sect.

Since the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Western Ports Com­mand, Mrs. Hilda Ibifuro-Harrison sounded the alarm, stakeholders stormed various social media, con­demning and praying against the planned attack.

Their fears were fuelled by the congestion occasioned by the peren­nial traffic gridlock within the ports, which according to security experts, provide a perfect cover for the terror­ists to strike and quickly melt into the crowd.

Those who spoke with Saturday Sun on phone said the horrible traf­fic situation remains a major setback for security operatives as they have limited room to coordinate the move­ment of people.

“It is even worse when a blast oc­curs because the chaos that will ensue is unimaginable. We have a problem on our hands. I just pray it never hap­pens. Apapa is choked up ordinarily, let alone when a blast occurs. In fact, in my office now, we pray for 30 min­utes everyday we come to work and the prayer point is on this attack and other happenings in Nigeria”, Jerome Madubuike, a businessman in Apapa said.

A banker who craved anonymity said: “Since this story broke out from the Police themselves, I suffer high BP whenever I’m going to work. I can’t imagine the devastation. Do you know hundreds of thousands of people who transact businesses in Apapa? Where will the Police start from? How will fire fighters access the blast scene? What of rescue oper­ations involving ambulances and all? The tankers and trailers have blocked everywhere. They themselves are vectors of crisis. I pray it remains an impotent threat”, she stated.

However, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Western Ports Command, Mrs. Hilda Ibifuro-Har­rison has I given an assurance that security has been beefed up around the ports, warning people operating within the area to stay alert always.

“We are not taking the threat lightly at all and we encourage all stakeholders who visit the ports to keep their eyes and ears open in case of any activity of the sect,” Ibifuro- Harisson who was represented by the Assistant Commissioner in charge of administration, Salem Machree said.

She said the Police would remain on alert in ensuring that the violent sect does not hit the ports.

Uche Usim of the Sun