There is palpable tension in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, such that people can feel it in the air and on the faces of most residents. This follows rumours that terror organizations are circling the city and may attack soon. This was not helped by the attack Sunday night on a patrol team of Guards Brigade that led to the death of some soldiers. Also, a statement from the Force Headquarters of the Nigeria Police calling for greater synergy from residents all points to the ominous signs that all is not well.
The Nigeria Police on Tuesday assured residents of the capital city that they are not leaving “any stone unturned to fortify the Federal Capital Territory and its environs:, adding that “The IGP has ordered for additional deployment of assets to Strategic areas of the FCT while the Force Intelligence Bureau has been charged on robust Intelligence gathering and information sharing amongst other agencies”.
“All residents of the FCT are urged to synergise and be on the same page with the Police and other security agencies in making sure that we forestall any ugly incidences in and around the FCT” .
The statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi, instead of calming frayed nerves, led to more panic as residents who spoke with The Economy online said that the tone of the statement was not assuring, according to Alhaji Abubakar Sambo, a bureau de change operator around Sheraton Hotels Abuja, “ the Police is not even confident in their message, one can see from that message that they are worried about a possible attack”.
A lawyer, Mr. Chudi Anigbo said that Nigerians should resort to self help in protecting their lives and property because the security agencies do not seem to have any answer to the pervading insecurity wrecking the land. He gave instances with attacks that happened last year in Kaduna, “When the terrorists and bandits attacked the NDA, I knew we are in deep trouble because it showed that they have no regard for the armed forces, and to think they had the effrontery to warn that they will kidnap the president and a serving governor tells you that nobody is safe.”
Others spoke in similar vein saying that the fact that schools are shutting down and parents withdrawing their kids is enough warning that the country is in a big security mess. Moreso, that government seems helpless in the face of the onslaught should give every resident of Abuja, and also other cities in Nigeria cause to worry.
Panic stricken residents of the FCT have reacted by shutting down in installments. The Economy online gathered that institutions of higher learning have also started shutting down their campuses as a result. Veritas University, Abuja is said to have asked staff and student to vacate the campus. This follows claims that terrorists wrote to the Abuja Campus of the Nigerian Law School demanding ransom on 500 students, a director-general and 15 lecturers of the institution, ahead of the attack.
The abrupt closure of the Roman Catholic owned Veritas University, located in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, followed security reports indicating that terrorists could attack and abduct students of the school after foiled attempt at the Nigerian Law School, sited some few kilometres apart.
New academic session which was hitherto slated to commence in September, has been put on hold and the 100-level students examination billed to begin this week, was suspended indefinitely. The school said the examination would be “conducted at a date to be announced.”
Veritas University had in a statement, Wednesday, said it had concluded academic activities hence the closure, but sources at the university say the development is not unconnected with security threats received by the school and security agencies.
The Public Relations Officer of Veritas University, Evelyn Obekpa, in a terse statement, yesterday, said: “The Management of Veritas University wishes to notify the general public that the university has successfully completed the 2021/2022 academic session.
“However, due to the current security tension and the directives of the Minister of the FCT for the closure of schools in Abuja, examinations for our 100 level students shall be conducted at a date to be announced later.”
There are claims and counter-claims that persons suspected to be terrorists/bandits, on Tuesday night, carried out sporadic shootings at the Minister’s Hill area and the Dantata Bridge along Airport Road, Abuja. In neighbouring Nasarawa State, Governor Abdullahi Sule also ordered immediate closure of schools to avert students being attacked.
It could be recalled that a day before the Police released its statement to the public, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) warned of impending coordinated attacks across states of the federation. In a memo that has soon gone viral, the NSCDC warned the public to be vigilant adding that intelligence reports claim that terrorists groups are planning attacks across the North-West, North-Central, South-West and the FCT.
For now, most residents of the capital city seem to be walking on wire as the tensed environment has adversely affected every area of life in the city.