• FG faults US, UK security advisory
• CDS confirms arrest of five in failed Niger cantonment attack
DAILY COURIER|
Monday Reuben, ‘Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja – The Federal Government has faulted the Security advisory by the United States and other countries, warning of an imminent terrorist attack on Nigeria, particularly Abuja.
DAILY COURIER recalls that the United States, in a recent security advisory to its citizens in Nigeria, warned of an “elevated risk of terror attacks, particularly in Abuja.”
In a follow up, the UK, Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland, among others, also warned their citizens to avoid travelling to Nigeria, particularly Abuja, because of a potential terror attack in the city.
But briefing State House correspondents at the end of the emergency security meeting called by President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd), said Nigerian citizens are not in danger.
Monguno, who briefed journalists alongside the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, said the panic that followed the US terror alert addressed to its citizens in Nigeria, was unnecessary because the hype and the sense of insecurity it created were unfounded.
He urged Nigerians and other residents to go about their daily lives as usual.
The NSA also stated that the armed forces, security, and intelligence organisations were continuing with their mandate to keep every Nigerian and every area of the nation secure.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, has confirmed the arrest of five suspects in a failed attack by suspected Islamic State-allied jihadists on a military base in the Wawa, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The military killed eight of the attackers after repelling a raid on the military base, where hundreds of militants are being held, two military sources said on Monday.
Irabor told journalists that the alertness of the troops led to the prevention of the attack.
“Some of you must have seen in the media or amongst you that on the night of 29th October, 2022, Wawa Cantonment in Niger State was attacked. Of course, the alertness of the troops led to the neutralisation of the attackers.
“Their vehicles that were laden with IEDs and other items were impounded, and five of those attackers were equally arrested. This is to let you know of the level of alertness of the members of the armed forces, the police, and other security agencies,” he said.
Others in attendance included Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha; and the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari.
Others were the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (Rtd); Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; and Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, led the service chiefs, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao, to the meeting; the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General Samuel Adebayo, was also in attendance.
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