The US Embassy in Nigeria yesterday warned its citizens about threats to American targets through the Independence holiday week.
"The U.S. Mission in Nigeria is issuing this emergency message to inform U.S. citizens of potential threats against U.S. installations during the July 4 holiday week," said a statement posted on the embassy's website.
Abuja was hit by fresh violence late Tuesday when a blast went off outside a shopping centre popular with both foreigners and locals. US citizens in Abuja remain barred from visiting places of worship as well as nearby commercial establishments and must return to their homes by midnight, according to the embassy statement.
The Boko Haram Islamist group, responsible for scores of attacks in recent months, has intensified attacks on Sundays and holidays. The embassy "is working with the government of Nigeria to implement additional security measures," through the July 4 holiday week, the statement also said.
Last month, Washington designated three Boko Haram leaders as global terrorists; a move it said was aimed to help stem the violence in Nigeria.
The Commissioner of Police in Abuja, Ade Shinaba, said he was not aware of any plot to carry out major attacks in Abuja by any group, noting that the police was were doing everything possible to protect citizens and foreigners from any form of attack.
He said people should not be apprehensive about unconfirmed warnings of imminent attacks.
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Dear Mr. Ade Shinaba, On what assurance are you telling Nigerians to "not be apprehensive about unconfirmed warnings of imminent attacks"?. Americans have the (reliable)intelligence, you have nothing. Americans work (act) on evidence, you work (act) on assumption. Is it surprising that you´re not aware of any plot to carry out major attacks in Abuja by any group when you don´t have the intelligence and don´t even know what intelligence is? If you sit there and tell Nigerians "not to be apprehensible about unconfirmed warnings" and eventually the attack(s) do occur you will still have one or other excuse to give why you failed to stop it. If you are a good and responsible Officer you will definitely heed to the warnings of the Americans, it´s nothing to shame about. In your words sir, if the "police were doing everything possible to protect citizens and foreigners from any form of attack", why do the attacks keep coming, lives being lost on daily basis, homes destroyed and businesses ruined while you and your men remain helpless? What the Nigerian Security Agent sees as "intelligence" is if one is vocal to criticize the government of corruption and mismanagement; someone who criticizes the police or army of excesses; one who makes his feelings and opinion open. This is so ridiculous! How can you have an intelligence on something that is open and clear? Listen,intelligence is if one or group of people are "slow poison", planning in secret, undermining or planning to undermine, corruption, "pay to kill", sabotage, nepotism, terrorism, etc. These are what the Americans are talking about.
HE WHO KILLS BY THE SWORD WILL DIE BY IT!