Lagos — The Lagos State Police Command has moved to beef up security around embassies in the state following the terror alert issued by the government of the United States at the weekend.

The police said they were leaving no stone unturned as adequate security measures had been put in place to secure the premises of embassies and homes of foreign envoys located within the Lagos metropolis.

The US Embassy in Nigeria had warned of a possible attack against diplomatic missions in Lagos, a warning contained in a message to US citizens living in Nigeria.

In the statement, the embassy said it had received reports of a possible strike against missions located close to the US Consulate General in Lagos, situated in the Victoria Island neighbourhood.

Speaking with THISDAY on phone, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, said the alleged planned attack on foreign embassies and missions was an "unnecessary jittery" on the part of the Americans.

"There is security all over the city of Lagos and I do believe that it is not an issue to contend with. I say with due sense of responsibility that everybody in Lagos State is safe. They should go about their businesses without fear of any possible attack. However, additional security measures have been put in place around embassies and homes of foreign envoys," he said.

Meanwhile, at the entrance to Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, armed riot policemen were seen on guard while the premises of the different Embassies in Lagos were boosted with additional security units comprising armed riot and regular policemen.

Persons who were at the embassies to keep appointments were frisked by the security operatives before they were allowed into the compounds of the foreign missions.

The Lagos Police boss assured foreigners not to be jittery as their lives and property in Lagos and indeed other parts of the country were safe.

The weekend alert by the US embassy gave no details of the nature of the reports it had received regarding the possible attack.

But it noted that US government facilities worldwide remained in a state of heightened alert because of "the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against Americans and US interests".

A similar warning issued on September 6, 2007 had said Western interests in Nigeria were at risk of "terrorist attack" but nothing of such has happened till date.