There was a security alert in the Niger Delta on Saturday following a presidential order to the heads of the security outfits in the region to curb crime or face unpleasant actions
It was leant that President Umaru Yar� Adua, who was unhappy about the recent developments in the region, especially the kidnap of children by militants, directed the security agents to redouble their efforts in crime control and prevention in their own interests.
Investigations revealed that the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Owoeye Azazi, passed the President�s directive to the military service commanders through the Commander of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, Operation Restore Hope, Brig-Gen. Lawrence Ngubane.
Similarly, the presidential signal to the police commissioners was handed down by the acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, while the Director-General of the SSS, Col. Kayode Are (rtd), relayed the message to his subordinates in the region.
Our correspondent gathered that the President was not impressed by the poor performance of the security agencies in the wake of the renewed criminal activities in the region, even after the release of the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujarhedeen Asari Dokubo.
A reliable security source told our correspondent that the tone of the order indicated that the President was unhappy that the security agents were not pro-active in the handling of the situation in the region.
Consequently, our source, who pleaded anonymity, said Yar�Adua directed the service commanders of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Airforce as well as commissioners of police and directors of SSS in the region, to live up to their constitutional obligations, or face disciplinary actions.
He said, �Mr. President, in a message through our superiors in Abuja, said we had failed to institute mechanisms to nip criminal activities in the bud, that we merely reacted to the developments in the region.
�The President was surprised that criminal activities did not reduce in the region after the release of Dokubo and he asked those at the helm of security apparatus in the region to redouble their efforts in crime control and prevention, particularly, abduction of oil workers and children, which has become the order of the day in the area.