ABUJA - Nigeria's police chief on Thursday ordered ramped-up security across the country over the upcoming Muslim Eid celebration and warned "miscreants and mischief makers" to keep away, a statement said.
Inspector general of police Mohammed Abubakar has directed his force "to take adequate measures to ensure the provision of water-tight security across the country before, during and after the celebration," the police statement said.
"(The inspector general) strongly warns all miscreants and mischief makers to keep away from disturbing the public peace, as the police force will stop at nothing to bring law-breakers to book," it said.
The warning comes after an escalation in violence by Islamist militant group Boko Haram in recent weeks.
Deadly bomb and gun attacks in a number of central and northern states have claimed dozens of lives.
Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, has declared August 20 and 21 public holidays to mark Eid, the end of the Muslim month of fasting Ramadan.
The nation on Wednesday cancelled a centuries-old Eid festival in the major northern city of Kano, famed for its elaborate horse pageant, officially due to the emir's health.
But it is widely suspected that worsening violence in the region is to blame.
Boko Haram's deadliest attack to date occurred in Kano in January, when coordinated bombings and shootings left at least 185 people dead.
On Saturday, soldiers raided a suspected Boko Haram hideout outside the city and discovered a cache of arms including guns and explosives.
Violence by the Islamist extremist group has killed more than 1,400 people since 2010 as part of its insurgency in northern and central Nigeria.
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