The Nigeria Police on Saturday refuted reports that bombs have been buried across Abuja by terrorists who intend to cause mayhem to individuals, key and vulnerable point in the metropolis.
Police Spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement that it was disheartening that some persons were spreading false information after the terror alert by at least foreign Western nations including United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, Denmark and Canada.
Adejobi said among the individuals making the claim are presumed peace ambassadors and patriotic agents of national unity in Nigeria.
He said the broadcast of fearful rumours to further create more panic in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would do the country no good.
Adejobi insists Abuja is safe and there is no imminent threat, nor is the FCT saturated with bombs as speculated.
The police advised residents “to disregard this fake news which was purportedly sponsored to create fear in our people and heat up the polity”.
“We will continue to adopt all effective operational strategies to decimate the activities of non-state actors and other criminal elements in the country.”
But panic still persists as the sprawling Jabi Lake Mall, one of the popular shopping outlets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has shut down.
Already, as if to lend credence to the rumours, the U.S. Department of State explained that it is going ahead with the evacuation of its citizens from Nigeria but it is mainly “non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members.”
Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the State Department told a Press Briefing in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday that the “decision for voluntary departure” was taken “out of an abundance of caution related to an elevated risk of terror attacks.”
The U.S. State Department, in announcing the approval of the evacuation in its updated travel advisory on Nigeria on Tuesday said:
“On October 25, 2022, the Department authorized the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members due to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks.
“The U.S. Embassy Abuja continues to have limited ability to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens in Nigeria. The U.S. Consulate in Lagos is providing all routine and emergency services to U.S. citizens in Nigeria.”
Patel said on Wednesday that the departure for now is on voluntary basis and not compulsory.
Full Press Briefing on Nigeria follows:
QUESTION: Very quick question on Nigeria.
MR PATEL: Sure.
QUESTION: I think it was yesterday or the day before – I’m confused – there was a Travel Advisory for the – not the evacuation but asking personnel, nonessential, to leave —
MR PATEL: Sure.
QUESTION: — because of the threats. Has that now – that was on a voluntary basis. Has that become compulsory now?
MR PATEL: That has not. That has not. So as you all know, the department overall continues to adjust and make assessments on its posture at our various embassies and missions and consulates throughout the world in line with local security, the environment, and other factors such as public health.
In the case of Nigeria, yesterday (Tuesday) the department did approve the authorized departure, which is the technical term in this situation, for family members and non-emergency U.S. government officials in Abuja. We made this decision for voluntary departure out of an abundance of caution related to an elevated risk of terror attacks, specifically in Abuja. But it is still at the authorized departure level. I don’t have any —
QUESTION: So no changes?
MR PATEL: No changes.
QUESTION: It’s not – it’s still voluntary?
MR PATEL: Correct.