We’re not aware of security threats in nation’s capital, says Guards Brigade
There was heightened anxiety in parts of the Federal Capital Territory, on Thursday following reports of alleged imminent attacks on parts of the FCT.
The PUNCH had reported exclusively on Wednesday that lawmakers had been notified of a possible attack by Boko Haram insurgents on the National Assembly complex and other public buildings in Abuja.
There were also media reports that schools in the Bwari area of Abuja hurriedly shut down on Wednesday over alleged arrival of truckloads of bandits in a neighbouring town, Sabon Wuse.
Our correspondents reported that palpable fear enveloped some parts of the FCT on Thursday.
One of our correspondents reported that security was beefed up at the main gate of the Mogadishu Barracks in Abuja popularly called Abacha Barracks.
Armed soldiers were seen subjecting vehicles entering the barracks located not too far from the AYA roundabout to thorough checks.
The situation led to a long queue of vehicles that stretched beyond the bridge in front of the barracks into the Abuja-Nasarawa Expressway.
Recall that there was a bomb blast at pubs near the barracks on the eve of January 1, 2011, when many people were killed. Boko Haram later claimed it carried out the attack.
FG increases security presence, stop-and-search at NNPC
At the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation headquarters, Abuja, security was also beefed up on Thursday.
Both the private guards of the corporation and armed policemen as well as soldiers ensured that all vehicles going into the oil company were thoroughly searched. This led to slow vehicular movements at the NNPC headquarters in the Central Area of the FCT.
Well-armed police officers were positioned in strategic locations in front of the corporation as some were seen in a black Land Cruiser jeep, which had its boot opened and some men sitting in it.
Officials of the oil firm stated that the enhanced measures were put in place to further protect the NNPC considering the tense level of insecurity nationwide.
“There is always security presence here, but, of course, the situation in Nigeria now has made it necessary to further strengthen the security architecture at the corporation,” the source stated on the condition of anonymity.
At Bwari, there was also anxiety when one of our correspondents visited the area.
One Aisha Adeleke told The PUNCH that she had already sent somebody to pick her children from school despite that it was not yet closing time.
“We only have one life, I cannot let anyone kidnap my children,” she told The PUNCH.
A lady simply identified as Nkiru also wondered why any boarding school would be in session despite the incessant cases of abduction in schools.
“I had to return home very early yesterday (Wednesday). I couldn’t sleep because I kept hearing sounds of motorcycles and I learnt those bandits ride motorcycles,” a taxi driver, Kabir said.
It was also learnt that Veritas University, Abuja, owned by the Catholic Church, which is located in Bwari, had sent its students home.
The PUNCH gathered on Thursday that the students, who were sent home on April 30, had been attending online classes from their homes pending further directives from the school management.
A former student of the school said, “My siblings who attend the school have been at home for some days attending online classes.
“The management shut down the school and sent the students away apparently to prevent a similar case with the Kaduna students’ abduction from happening here.
SOURCE: PUNCH NIGERIA
