living in Nigeria that Boko Haram sect is planning
attacks on Abuja, including major hotels frequently visited by Westerners.
U.S. authorities issued a similar warning in
November, naming the Hilton, Sheraton and Nicon Luxury hotels as
possible Boko Haram targets in Abuja, but later retracted the alert.
Yesterday's warning issued by the U.S. embassy in
Abuja, said the U.S. government has no additional
information regarding the timing of the impending attacks adding that
the Nigerian government was aware of the threat and actively
implementing security measures.
"The U.S. Embassy has received information that
Boko Haram may be planning attacks in Abuja,
Nigeria, including against hotels frequently visited
by Westerners.
"The Nigerian government is aware of the threat
and is actively implementing security measures,"
the message said.
The embassy reminded U.S. citizens to exercise
additional caution and maintain "a high state of
vigilance and personal security awareness,
particularly in and around Abuja, near Nigerian
government facilities, diplomatic missions, large
gathering places, hotels, markets and malls, and places of worship,"
the warning said.
The embassy appealed to all U.S. citizens to review
their personal security plans, remain aware of their surroundings,
including local events, monitor local news stations for updates, and
report specific incidences of targeted violence to the U.S. Embassy in
Abuja or the U. S. Consulate General in Lagos.
However, the warning did not name specific targets for the attack.
When contacted, the Force Public Relations Officer,
Deputy Commissioner Olusola Amore, said the
terror alert by the U.S Mission was unsubstantiated and that "foreign
missions in Nigeria must avoid acts capable of causing unnecessary
panic."
He maintained that, "there is no such threat. The
Nigeria Police Force is prepared to checkmate any
form of threat and attack by hoodlums anywhere
they are in Nigeria. We are prepared."
Culled from Daily Trust
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