The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has intensified nationwide security operations to prevent attacks and ensure public safety during the Christmas celebrations across Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), working closely with other security agencies, had rolled out proactive security measures in identified vulnerable areas.
According to him, the military has deployed additional troops to strategic locations and major routes nationwide, while special forces units and air support assets have been placed on high alert to guarantee swift response to any emerging threat.
Onoja said security agencies have heightened surveillance activities, including aerial monitoring and intelligence gathering, to track the movement and communication of suspected criminal groups. He added that unit commanders have been directed to intensify patrols, establish fortified checkpoints, and strengthen collaboration with community leaders, local vigilante groups, and state security outfits.
The Defence Headquarters reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to protecting lives and property, stressing that national security and stability remain top priorities as Nigerians prepare to mark the festive season.
Onoja also called on citizens to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by promptly reporting suspicious activities, assuring that all reports would be treated with urgency and confidentiality. He conveyed Christmas and New Year goodwill messages from the Chief of Defence Staff, General O.O. Oluyede, and urged wide dissemination of the security advisory.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command has also announced heightened security measures across the state to ensure a peaceful Yuletide celebration.
The command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, said tactical units have been deployed to waterways, recreational centres, and other identified hotspots as part of a comprehensive security framework designed to enhance visible policing, surveillance, and rapid response.
She disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, directed area commanders and divisional police officers to ensure strategic deployments at entry and exit points, motor parks, hotels, churches, mosques, and other public spaces, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
Iringe-Koko added that the police are strengthening community engagement by working closely with traditional rulers, youth groups, and religious leaders to encourage early intelligence sharing and prevent security breaches during the festive period.
Residents were advised to take personal safety precautions, secure their homes, supervise children, and promptly report suspicious behaviour to the authorities.
The Rivers State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property before, during, and after the celebrations, while extending Christmas and New Year greetings to residents of the state.
