Presidency Orders Stricter Checks On VIP Cars In ASo Rock

   

 The Presidency has raised the prospect of unscrupulous elements using cars with tinted glasses to launch attacks at the Presidential Villa, Abuja and has therefore ordered a stricter checks on such vehicles coming into the premises,due to various tactics adopted by Boko haram in the North East.

An internal memo dated 26th January, 2016 with reference number "C-in-C/CSO/LTU/558 and signed by the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the President, Bashir Abubakar, expressed worries that people were driving into the Presidential Villa in cars with tinted glasses and refusing to lower their car windows to be properly checked by security agencies. 

It particularly regretted that staff especially security personnel in the villa were using the excuse of  driving Very Important Persons (VIPs) to justify their failure to lower their tinted windows at security checkpoints, reminding them that most high profile terror attacks were carried out with hijacked vehicles and vehicles with tinted glasses.

The memo therefore directed heads of units/departments to advise personnel working under them to always subject themselves to security checks.

                 FULL MEMO READS

Titled:

 "Use of tinted cars around the Presidential Villa, Abuja," the memo said:

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 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 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. 

 

 "Heads of units/ departments are to advise personnel working under them to always subject themselves to proper security checks and not take the duties of security personnel for granted."

Source:Tribune