Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday urged people to avoid panic and remain calm in the wake of warning calls by several countries of possible terror attacks in the capital, Abuja and elsewhere in the country, reported The BBC.
Earlier this week, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland and Australia issued advisories for their citizens against travelling to Nigeria in wake of a possible terror attack. The Washington went a step further and asked all non-essential diplomatic staff to leave Nigeria.
In a statement on Friday, Nigerian President Buhari downplayed the threat saying that the security forces and citizens should stay vigilant and careful.
He added that Nigerians’ safety remains the highest priority of government and that security agents are proactively rooting out threats to keep citizens safe.
“Unfortunately, terror is a reality the world over,” Mr Buhari said in a statement on Friday.
He said the latest alerts by Western countries do not mean an attack in Abuja is imminent. He added that the security threats are real and have been with the people of the country for a long while.
The Nigerian President stressed that that while being security conscious, being alert and careful is crucial. He said it is very important for the responsible members of the society to understand the situation and not create situations leading to unnecessary panic.
President Buhari went on to commend the country’s military and other security agencies for the improvement in the nation’s security condition, and directed that additional precautionary measures be put in place during the upcoming festive period.
He expressed optimism that the nation will emerge victorious against the current challenges facing it, given the on-going efforts on the part of the military and other security and intelligence agencies with the active support of the civilian population.
