Boko Haram bombings: Don’t panic, FG reassures

Following the renewed threat by Boko Haram sect to carry out more bomb attacks in Abuja after weekend bloodbath in Damaturu, Yobe State capital which claimed more than 150 lives, the Federal Government yesterday asked members of the public not to panic assuring that security agencies have put in place adequate measures to secure lives and property.
Government assurance came just as the Yobe State Commissioner of Police, Mr Sulaiman Lawal released details of the casualty suffered by members of the security agencies in the attack.
The United States Embassy in Nigeria on Monday warned its citizens to steer clear of three major hotels in Abuja claiming it had intelligence report that the sect was planning to attack the hotels.
The National Security Adviser, General Owoeye Azazi (rtd) in a statement yesterday said the Federal Government has put in place adequate measures to secure three top hotels in the Federal Capital city suspected to be targets of the fundamentalists.
The Statement reads: “The attention of the Federal Government has been drawn to a publication making the rounds in the media concerning planned attacks on three major hotels in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Expectedly, the publication is eliciting unhealthy public anxiety and generating avoidable tension.

A Police anti-bomb squad vehicle burnt on November 4 by members of the Boko Haram Islamist sect in Damaturu, Yobe State. AFP PHOTO

The Federal Government wants to advise members of the public that it would continue to ensure the security of lives and property under its jurisdiction despite the unfortunate events in Maiduguri and Yobe over the weekend.”
Azazi stated that the current threat of attack on the three hotels in Abuja was not news, stressing that for over three months, the security services have taken pro-active measures to protect the designated critical facilities and others.
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