Kachikwu Vs Baru: Heavy Security; Soldiers Policemen And Armoured Tanks Deployed At NNPC HQ

“There have been soldiers at the NNPC since the Boko Haram threats of 2013.
“However, we received fresh reports that people may be coming to demonstrate at the NNPC, so we had to beef the security up around the NNPC.
“Also, the feud between both sides has caused some division at the NNPC. For now, visitors won’t be allowed to drive in, except they have special appointment or they are contractors and there are special identity cards given to contractors.”

There are eight soldiers on duty every eight hours and then there are snipers at the six watch towers.
Heavy security at NNPC headquarters
“Under the bridge beside the NNPC, there is a military unit on standby. They have been there since Boko Haram started sending threat messages but now that two bosses are fighting, they have also been placed on alert.
“Security has also been beefed up because of the sensitivity of the issue. They are under a Senate investigation and all those who got the (about) $24bn contracts have their interests to protect, including international oil companies. So, we are just taking precautionary steps.”

“From time to time, we do that. They were there like that sometime last month, and so on and so forth. However, you are aware that this is the country’s national oil corporation and it needs security presence, just like the kind of heavy security presence at the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“So it is not unusual. The security men are always there. Last month, they sent mobile police and military contingents here. Do you expect a national oil corporation not to have security presence?”

“If you come here around 3pm daily, you will see heavy military vehicles moving in and out when they are changing duties. So the official reaction you seek to this issue is that it is a normal routine.”