IT was meant to be a security report to put operatives in government offices on the alert and prevent them from being caught unawares by the activities of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) militants.
But the National Assembly bureaucrats went a step further and placed closed circuit television cameras in the hallowed chambers of the Senate.
Yet, the security alert over alleged plans by MEND to bomb government offices in Abuja has put operatives on edge.
The Guardian learnt in Abuja last Friday from lawmakers that explanations from the National Assembly bureaucracy showed that the cameras, though allegedly put in the Senate Chamber in error, were procured for the lobby and corridors of all offices of the Assembly complex late last year, as part of security measures for lawmakers.
“But when a security report, not connected with the measures being put in place by the bureaucracy, came in that MEND militants were planning to bring in explosives and arms and ammunition to create what they called maximum impact, an overzealous official brought up the issue of putting cameras in the Senate Chamber without consulting his superiors or we, the senators,” a source said.
It was gathered that one of the security arms of government had put all security departments of government offices in Abuja on the alert as a result of information that MEND militants were allegedly plotting to attack Abuja from December 31, 2006.
The alert, which gained grounds during the public holiday early in the new year, reportedly heightened in the face of the rash of kidnappings and attacks in the Niger Delta region.
Specifically, the targets of the militants are said to be public offices, but the government, a source said at the weekend, is not taking chances and may be considering stepping up its plans to put a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) ring around the Federal Capital City (FCC), especially around the Three-Arms Zone housing the Presidential Villa, the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court complex.
It would be recalled that a similar project, conceived last year, was test-run in the last quarter of the year and journalists were invited for the occasion at the Police Headquarters.
A source said at the weekend that the project was still on and its pace accelerated to help maintain security “in view of the latest threats.”
Already, an instruction had been passed round to security operatives in government offices, to conduct a stop and search on persons and vehicles (whether authorised or not) within or coming into their premises.
Last Thursday, there was uproar in the Senate when the Deputy Senate Minority Leader, Prof. Daniel Saror, while seconding the motion for adjournment, raised eyebrows over the re-emergence of CCTV cameras in the Chamber.
Said Saror: “Distinguished colleagues, you will recall that last year, we discovered some secret cameras or monitors in this very Chamber and we directed that they should be removed and they were dismantled.
“Somehow, I now see another set of cameras (pointing to the corners of the Chamber) around us again. I don’t know whether they are listening devices or whatever. I really can’t say.”
H e added: “This is supposed to be a hallowed Chamber where we can conduct our businesses without interference. What are those cameras doing there? I think this is an infringement on our privacy. This should not be tolerated.”
It was gathered that Senate President, Ken Nnamani, had invited the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Nasir Arab, and the Sergeant-at-Arms, Col. Emeka Okere, who explained that the inclusion of the Senate Chamber for the installation of the cameras was a regrettable error.