The United States and the United Kingdom missions in Nigeria recently issued separate security advisories warning that terrorists may attack Abuja, the nation’s capital.
They advised citizens of their countries to avoid Abuja except for essential services.
Reacting to this, the Department of State Services (DSS) called for calm, saying necessary precautions were being taken to secure the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other parts of Nigeria.
Similarly, the Nigerian police also reassured Nigerians and visitors that it will effectively review those advisories.
Government response
For his part, Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said despite attempts by terrorists to embarrass the government, security agencies had in the last few months taken firm control of the situation.
He also insisted that citizens and non-citizens were safe in the country, where an attack on the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje area of Abuja was successfully carried out in July 2022.
Recent attacks
The Kuje centre is one of Nigeria’s most secure prisons, with the jail guarded by soldiers, police, Civil Defence Corps operatives, and the prison’s armed squad.
How then was the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) able to carry out the attack? Could ISWAP have had help from inside the prison or the security forces?
Even President Muhammadu Buhari, in his immediate response to the Kuje attack, said he was disappointed in the country’s intelligence operatives.
Also in July, terrorists fatally ambushed soldiers of an elite unit of the Nigerian army in Abuja and killed eight soldiers, including two officers at the Bwari Area Council.
Those attacks, once again, exposed the general insecurity in the country.
The attacks also showed that the government had failed to contain the expansion and potency of violent extremists and bandits while putting to question the government’s ability to protect its citizens.
Take concrete action
It is the responsibility of government to protect its citizens. The inability to achieve that would mean the government has failed in its duties.
Government officials should also be careful not to dismiss such security threats nor act like everything is under control.
There is an obvious need for the country’s security agencies and the military to review their counter-terrorism strategy, which was last assessed in 2016.
More importantly, those tasked with protecting Nigerians in every region of the country should diligently carry out their duties.
Photo source: Jeff Attaway
