October 25, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government has condemned strongly, the unverified security alert recently issued in Nigeria by certain embassies in the country.
THEWILL reported that the United States Embassy in Nigeria had on Sunday, alerted its nationals in the country to an elevated risk of terror attacks in Nigeria, specifically in Abuja.
In his reaction on Tuesday, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, condemned the United States’s security advisory.
Mohammed, who spoke on Tuesday, in Abuja, at a ministerial panel of the ongoing UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Week, also berated Nigerian media outlets and social media personalities for spreading the security alerts without verifying their authenticity and consequences.
Mohammed was a panellist at the UNESCO session with the topic, ‘National Media and Information Literacy Frameworks, Sustaining Beyond Disinformation’ moderated by Dr Tawfik Jelassi, the Assistant Director-General of Communication and Information Sector, UNESCO.
Other discussants on the panel are Nigeria’s Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami; Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah and UK Minister of Tech and Digital Economy, Damian Collins, who participated virtually.
In his presentation, Mohammed said the warning issued by the embassies, which was not the true position of the security situation in the country, could create unnecessary tension and panic.
He also condemned the media outfits, which fed on the unverified security alert to attract traffic to their site, without considering the effects on the country.
“Some media outlets and social media personalities are usually caught spreading unverified information on their platforms just for clickbait and the attendant monetary gain.
“Talking of clickbait, this may be what informed the spread of the supposed security alert issued recently by some foreign embassies in Nigeria.
“One would imagine that if indeed this kind of security alert was issued, it was for the attention of citizens of the issuing countries in Nigeria.
“Suddenly, this alert found its way into the media, both new and traditional, thus creating panic in the polity.
“Schools were shut. Businesses were closed. Travel plans were altered. Lives were disrupted. No one cared to find out about the authenticity of these alerts.
“They just published, got the benefit of massive clickbait and damned the consequences”, he said.
He reiterated his position that the country “is safer today than at any time in recent times’’, with the efforts and sacrifices of the military.
The minister said the security forces had been proactive and as far as insecurity is concerned, the worst is over for Nigeria.
He, therefore, urged Nigerians not to panic but to be alert at all times.
“We do not discountenance the fact that terrorists, bandits and their kind would always want to do whatever it takes to disrupt our nation’s peace, security and stability.
“Well, I can assure all that our military and other security agencies have continued to do everything possible to secure and protect Nigerians and foreigners living in Nigeria.
“Terrorists have been hard hit and put on the run. Bandits have been decimated and scattered”, he said.
Speaking on the theme of the session, the minister defined disinformation as “a deliberate act to spread falsehood with extreme consequences on national peace, security and stability”.
He said the threat of disinformation to national and global peace and stability is glaring, as it undermines the trust of citizens in the system.
The minister said people must join hands to address the scourge of disinformation, that was threatening global existence.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom (UK), has warned of an increased threat of terrorist attacks in Abuja.
It also warned that terrorists were likely to carry out attacks in Nigeria, adding that the attacks could be indiscriminate and could affect western interests, as well as places visited by tourists.
The British High Commission made this known on its website to its citizens in Nigeria, even though it said it remained open for essential services.
The UK warning was coming after the United States also warned of similar terror attacks on the nation’s capital.
It recalled that most attacks conducted by Boko Haram or Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), occurred in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States in the North East.
The UK further recalled that between May and July 2022, ISWAP had conducted a number of attacks in Kogi, Niger, and in the Federal Capital Territory.
It added that there had also been significant attacks in other states, including in Gombe, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Bauchi and Taraba States.
It stated: “Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Nigeria. Attacks could be indiscriminate and could affect western interests, as well as places visited by tourists.
“Further attacks are likely. There is an increased threat of terrorist attack in Abuja. The British High Commission remains open for essential services.
“You should stay alert, minimise travel within the city and follow the local news and the advice of security authorities.
“Public places where crowds gather have been targeted in the past, including places of worship, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, football viewing centres, displacement camps, transport terminals (including train networks), government buildings, security and educational institutions (schools, further education colleges and universities are all regular targets), and international organisations.
“Attacks have taken place around religious and public holidays in public or crowded places, including places of worship as well as during election periods.”
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