… Urges Nigerians, and FCT Residents to Disregard Fake News About Bombs
By Abubakar Yunusa, Abuja
Following last Sunday’s travel advisory by the United States Embassy in Nigeria to American citizens in the country over the heightened risk of terrorist attack in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Nigeria Police Force (NPF)has reiterated that the FCT is safe and there is no imminent threat.
The Explainer gathered that the US Embassy, in the advisory warned American citizens in Nigeria to be cautious of their movement in response to what it called an “elevated risk of terror attacks in Nigeria, specifically in Abuja.”
The US government, in its update, said, “On October 25, 2022, the Department authorized the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members due to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks. The U.S. Embassy in Abuja continues to have limited ability to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens in Nigeria. The U.S. Consulate in Lagos is providing all routine and emergency services to U.S. citizens in Nigeria”.
On the heels of this warning, The Explainer observed that the British High Commission in Abuja which used to be a beehive of activities for those seeking travel visas has been left completely desolate while Australia, Ireland, and Canada reduced services and would only attend to critical needs.
The Explainer also learned that the United States government has authorized the evacuation of its employees and their families from Nigeria over potential terrorist attacks.
But the federal government in a swift response to this evacuation said it would not be stampeded by whatever any government tells its citizens to do.
In a statement obtained by The Explainer on Saturday, NPF boasted that “We still reiterate that the Federal Capital Territory is safe and there is no imminent threat, neither is the FCT being saturated with bombs as speculated in the news”.
The statement partly read; “It is surprising and disheartening to read in the news and on social media that bombs are being planted in every area of the Federal Capital Territory, even from some individuals who are presumed to be peace ambassadors and patriotic agents of national unity in Nigeria.
“I don’t think it will do our country any good to continually spread such fearful rumors to further create more panic among citizens and residents of the FCT and Nigeria at large.
“We, therefore, urge residents of the FCT and Nigerians at large to disregard this fake news which was purportedly sponsored to create fear in our people and heat the polity.
“We will continue to adopt all effective operational strategies to decimate the activities of non-state actors and other criminal elements in the country.”
