FOLLOWING the threat of fresh bomb attacks on the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, by the Boko Haram insurgents, residents of the capital city have become more vigilant around their environment and in public places.
Patrick Itodo, a civil servant told the Nigerian Tribune that he has avoided crowded places and usually watched out for any strange object any where he found himself.
He said he was aware of the warning by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, that residents of FCT should be vigilant over the Boko Haram fresh threat to attack Abuja.
Itodo, said there was no doubt that the Nigerian Army had defeated the insurgents, but insisted that the threat by the sect should not be taken for granted because “these are faceless people.”
Although, the Nigerian Army had, while reacting to the threat, said the fresh threat issued by released Boko Haram members in a video clip distributed by the group was just a propaganda and should be ignored, astatement by Army spokesman Brigadier General Sani Usan said the attention of the Nigerian Army had been drawn to the threat by one of the released Boko Haram terrorists in exchange for the abducted Chibok school girls.
He said: “in the first clip the terrorist, among other things, made boastful and spurious allegations, while the second clip was about alleged indoctrination of some of the abducted Chibok school girls in captivity.
“We wish to state that the terrorist has lost touch with current realities. It was aimed at seeking relevance and attention. As you are all aware, he was a direct beneficiary of the process that led to the release of 82 of the abducted girls, and does not have a say or capacity to do anything, therefore his threats should be ignored.
“We would like to assure the public that the Nigerian Army is totally committed to the Federal Government’s determined efforts of rescuing all abducted persons and peace in the country.”
The spokesman said the army would not relent in its efforts of clearing the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists through the ongoing clearance operations.
“Therefore, we wish to solicit for more support, cooperation and understanding of the public, particularly members of the press.
“We should not give in to terrorists propaganda and empty threats. We have come to a very critical stage of the fight against terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria that requires more patriotism and security consciousness by all and sundry. Gone were the days when people glamorise terrorists and their criminal acts,” he added.
But checks in some public places within the Federal Capital Territory has indicated that security has been beefed up to protect hotels and national infrastructures and assets which are usually targets of terrorists in FCT.
There is the heavy presence of soldiers deployed to hotels like Transcorp and other five stars hotels as well as other national assets in Abuja, because of high number of people that gather or visit such places.
Also, the soldiers have continued to mount their check-points at strategic routes into the FCT. Suspicious vehicles are thoroughly searched before allowed into the capital city.
However, quite a number of persons spoken to, dismissed the recent threat to bomb Abuja, saying they do not believe the insurgents still have that kind of capacity to come and operate freely in Abuja.
“I want to believe that there is significant improvement in security architecture in the country now. We have heard about how conversations are being monitored now through mobile phones in collaboration with the service providers. The threat is an empty threat,” Habib Gidaddo said.
Gidaddo, who said he is business person, blamed the media for helping the insurgents in their propaganda. “If they are not fearful, let them come out in the open to channel their grievances to the government. They are hiding and sending out video clips to the media because of fear and they too want Nigerians to live in fears the same way”.
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