Operatives beef up security in Aso Rock

The Presidency has expressed the fear that terrorists focusing on high profile targets around the world may launch attacks on the Presidential Villa, Abuja if proper precautionary measures are not put in place.

It has therefore ordered that all vehicles, official and unofficial, must be subjected to thorough security checks before gaining access into the premises.

The order is irrespective of whether the vehicles are conveying Very Important Persons or not.

The directives were contained in an official memo signed by the Chief Security Officer to the President, Bashir Abubakar.

Our correspondent on Tuesday sighted a copy of the document titled, “Use of tinted cars around the Presidential Villa, Abuja” dated January 26, 2016.

Abubakar also frowned on a situation where drivers of cars with tinted glasses refuse to wind down at security checkpoints “on the excuse that they are security operatives or because the vehicles are official.”

He said such acts were not in tandem with proper security arrangements worldwide.

If unchecked, he said the acts posed security threat to the seat of power.

Henceforth, Abubakar said all workers and visitors to the Presidential Villa, irrespective of their status must subject themselves and their vehicles to proper security checks.

The document partly read, “It has been observed that some members of 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 used 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 a 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.”