The growing apprehension in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, over the terror alerts issued by the United States and the United Kingdom persisted on Friday, October 28, 2022, even as the Federal Government heightened security in the capital city.
Saturday PUNCH observed massive deployment of Special Forces and the elite Presidential Guards Brigade in Abuja metropolis to prevent possible terrorist attacks.
Armed security personnel, including policemen, were seen patrolling the city centre, the Kubwa Expressway, Jabi, and other strategic points.
They were also seen around the NNPC Towers, War College, both in the Central Business District, and around the Central Bank of Nigeria headquarters.
The US and UK had stated that there was an elevated risk of terror attacks in Nigeria, specifically in Abuja.
The US advisory said the militants might target government buildings, places of worship, schools, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, athletic gatherings, transport terminals, facilities belonging to law enforcement agencies and international organisations.
It, therefore, directed non-essential embassy staff and their family members to leave the Federal Capital Territory.
Though the Federal Government gave assurances that the security forces were on top of the situation, the US Embassy in an updated alert warned its staff, their family members and American nationals to leave Abuja or avoid public places.
Denmark, Bulgaria, Germany, Ireland and Canadian authorities also issued separate security alerts, asking their citizens in the country to stay alert, refrain from visiting public events, avoid clusters of people and exercise caution in and around Abuja.
The Denmark Ministry of Foreign Affairs further advised its nationals against travelling to Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Taraba, Plateau, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kogi, Abia, Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Cross River states.
Based on this development, security agencies including the Department of State Services, National Intelligence Agency, the military, and police launched a joint security operation to smoke out criminals said to have embedded themselves in Abuja preparatory to launching a massive terror attack.
On Monday, two suspects were arrested at the Trademore Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, while suspected Islamic State West Africa Province commanders and their foot soldiers were also apprehended between Tuesday and Thursday.
Saturday PUNCH gathered on Friday that the authorities have also dispatched intelligence officers to the satellite towns, including Bwari, Kubwa, Suleja, Lugbe and other places where terror suspects were believed to be hibernating.
Reliable security sources confirmed that scores of suspects had been arrested for profiling in what has been described as a major counterintelligence operation.
One of the sources stated, “The ongoing operation has successfully netted many suspects who will be profiled. Beyond this, the Special Forces and Guards Brigade have been activated to strengthen the security cordon around the FCT. I’m sure you have seen their show of force patrol around the city and on the highways. Nothing is being spared to keep the capital city safe and secure.”
Our correspondents who monitored the situation in the FCT observed the combat-ready troops of the Guards Brigade and men of the Special Forces in Gwarimpa. Plain-clothes operatives were also seen in unmarked Hilux vans patrolling the city.
Police justify patrol
Justifying the heavy deployment of security agents across the capital city, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, DSP Josephine Adeh, noted that the patrol was intensified for visibility and confidence-building and not as a panic response.
She stated, “This isn’t the first time our men are patrolling the city. We all know what informed this question. However, I would like to reiterate the standpoint of the police as pronounced by the Inspector General Usman Baba in a publication released by the Force PRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, that the FCT is safe.
“This is an intensified routine patrol for visibility policing and confidence building, and should not be mistaken for a panic response at all.”
The IG had in the statement on Thursday night charged strategic managers in charge of police commands and tactical formations to beef up security in their respective jurisdictions, especially in the FCT.
Adejobi stated, “The IG therefore allays the fear of residents of the FCT and admonishes them to go about their lawful business and normal social lives/engagements as all hands are on deck to nip any security threat in the bud and respond to distress calls promptly.” He said people should report suspicious occurrences to the designated emergency numbers.
NASS on alert
Meanwhile, the National Assembly says it has activated preventive security measures in response to the terror alert.
One of our correspondents gathered on Friday that the management had taken discreet measures to fortify the security at the complex so that ongoing budget defence won’t be truncated.
Standing committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives are currently engaging ministries, departments, and agencies to defend their budgets in the 2023 Appropriation Bill presented by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on October 7.
The National Assembly had adjourned the plenary for one month – till November 15 – for the budget defence. Lawmakers are expected to grill ministers and heads of departments, agencies, and corporations on their 2022 budget performance and allocations in the 2023 bill.
Speaking to Saturday PUNCH on Friday, the Director of Information, National Assembly, Rawlings Agada, noted that the management had taken preventive measures.
The ongoing renovation of the complex had led to the closure of the main entrance to the premises, while alternative routes were being used.
Agada said, “Security measures have been put in place, both covert and overt arrangements. Basic security measures have been put in place and we are fully alert.
“Due to the budget defence sessions taking place now, it will not be appropriate to put panic in the system. The general security concern is to ensure that the security agencies and complementary bodies within the complex are on top of their game. It is a national alert.”
The director echoed the assurance from the Inspector-General of Police that security had been beefed up, especially in the nation’s capital.
According to him, the management has a security committee that meets weekly and is apprised of developments in the complex on a daily basis.
“If there is the need to upgrade the alert, it will be done, but the security agencies are in charge and they are all on alert,” he added.
Senator Ajibola Basiru, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, also said efforts were in place to secure the complex.
“If we are doing something in terms of our security, I won’t tell you. I can tell you that we are working but I cannot tell you the details,” Basiru said.
A member of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Bamidele Salam, however, said there were not enough indications that adequate measures had been taken to guard the complex.
He said he had observed more security presence in Abuja since the alarm was raised but that the NASS premises remained porous despite the ongoing budget defense that had been attracting high-profile persons to the National Assembly.
When asked if security had been tightened around the complex, he said, “Absolutely not! Unfortunately, the management of the National Assembly does not appear to be taking the issue as seriously as it is.
“Personally, I have raised this matter at some level a few days ago. I was in the National Assembly today (Friday) – I went in and out – and I did not see any sign of heightened security presence that I should have expected within that vicinity.
“It is a no-brainer; it is too obvious for anybody to know that it is porous. There is a need to do more to secure lives and property, not only of the members of the National Assembly but also workers and those who come to the National Assembly for the budget defense.”
However, the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Adejoro Adeogun, criticised the US, UK, and other foreign missions in Nigeria for “causing unnecessary panic.”
Adeogun, in an interview with one of our correspondents, said, “The US and the western nations are causing unnecessary panic. The alarm raised is needless. The local intelligence agencies are aware of the intelligence at the disposal of the US and have stepped up actions to arrest the ISWAP terrorists who opened cells in the FCT. Some arrests have been made and joint ops are ongoing.”
He said the committee was satisfied with how security agencies had handled the threat.
“Yes, the leadership of the committee has been briefed and we are in contact with the heads of the intelligence agencies to follow up on actions being taken. I think so far we are satisfied with the steps they are taking,” he added.
