Don’t panic, but be vigilant – Buhari urges Nigerians amid alert on terror attack in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has called for calm amid alerts by the United States and United Kingdon over a possible terror attack on Abuja, the capital city.

The president in a statement by his spokesperson Garba Shehu on Friday, October 28, 2022, said Nigeria’s security forces will be vigilant and urged citizens not to panic.

Recall that the United Kingdom and the United States Embassy on Sunday, October 23, 2022, issued a security alert on the elevated risk of terror attacks in Abuja.

In a security alert issued to its nationals, the Embassy said targets may include but are not limited to, government buildings, places of worship, schools, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, athletic gatherings, transport terminals, law enforcement facilities, and international organizations.

But reacting in the statement, the president said citizens should remain calm, adding that the recent changes in travel advice from the US and UK governments should not be a cause for panic.

He said Nigeria is no exception in having terror threats listed in foreign government’s travel advice to their citizens.

According to Buhari, UK and US travel advisories also state there is a high likelihood of terror attacks in many Western European nations. Indeed, the UK and US advice to their respective citizens for travel to one another’s countries contain the same warning. Unfortunately, terror is a reality the world over.

He said such an advisory does not mean an attack in Abuja is imminent.

“Since the July prison raid, security measures have been reinforced in and around the FCT. Heightened monitoring and interception of terrorist communications ensure potential threats are caught further upstream.

“Attacks are being foiled. Security agents are proactively rooting out threats to keep citizens safe – much of their work is unseen and necessarily confidential.

“Nigerians’ safety remains the highest priority of the government. Security services are working around the clock to keep harm at bay, “he assured.

Nigeria over the years has been undergoing its worst form of security challenges in over a decade, with the nation’s leadership trying to contain the situation.

The security challenges manifest in banditry, kidnapping, and cyber-related crimes.