President Muhammadu Buhari has told Nigerians not panic over the recent security alerts from the British and United States’ Governments.
He urged the security agencies to continue to be alert and vigilant, in spite of the security challenges facing the country.
In a statement, the President called for calm, saying that recent changes in the travel advisories from the US and UK governments to their citizens living in the country should not cause Nigerians to panic.
The statement read in part, “Nigeria is no exception in having terror threats listed in a foreign government’s travel advice to its citizens. The UK and US travel advisories also stated that there was a high likelihood of terror attacks in many Western European nations. Unfortunately, terror is a reality all over the world.
“However, this does not mean that an attack on Abuja is imminent. Since the July prison raid, security measures have been reinforced within and around the Federal Capital Territory. Heightened monitoring and interception of terrorist communications ensure that 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 government. Security services are working around the clock to keep harm at bay.”
The President gave the assurance that the Federal Government is on top of the security situation in country.
He noted that security threats were real and had been with us for a long while, just as the nation’s military and other security agencies had always shown a capability to deal with it.
Buhari stressed that while it is crucial to be security conscious, alert and careful, it is also important that responsible members of the society do not create situations leading to unnecessary panic.
He commended the military and other security agencies for the recent turn around in the nation’s security situation and directed that additional precautionary measures be put in place during festive periods.
President Buhari expressed the optimism that given on-going efforts on the part of the military and other security and intelligence agencies with the active support of the civilian population, Nigeria will overcome the challenges threatening its corporate existence.
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