Sopuruchi Onwuka
The embassy of the United States of America and the British High Commission in Nigeria have warned of potential terrorist attacks on diplomatic, public and private targets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The two countries reputed for their unmistakable security intelligence issued an alert Sunday evening, warning the public of possible terrorist attack on government buildings, places of worship, schools and other strategic targets.
The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria said “there is an elevated risk of terror attacks in Nigeria, specifically Abuja” and added that shopping malls, law enforcement facilities and international organizations were among places at risk.
“The U.S. Embassy will offer reduced services until further notice,” the embassy said in an alert to citizens in Nigeria.
The United Kingdom government warned that its citizens in Nigeria should stay alert due to an “increased threat of terrorist attack in Abuja.”
“Attacks could be indiscriminate and could affect western interests, as well as places visited by tourists,” it said.
Insecurity, which has spread across Nigeria, is a major issue for voters when they go to the polls next February to elect a new president to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
Efforts to get official response to the security alerts were not successful.
