Following credible intelligence reports of threats to national security in some parts of the country, particularly the Niger Delta region and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, the Federal Government has reportedly placed all the nation’s security forces on red alert.
A senior security officer told our correspondent in Abuja on Friday during a conference that the measure became necessary based on credible intelligence reports available to the government regarding alleged plots to carry out coordinated attacks on strategic public infrastructure in selected locations across the country.
The source revealed that the planned attacks were intended as a protest against the state of emergency declared in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday, 18 March 2025, following the lingering political crisis in the state, which had defied all solutions.
Consequently, it was gathered that the Federal Government’s directive, being coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), is being implemented rigorously by security forces, including the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Nigerian Customs Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other relevant agencies.
The source further explained that, in response to the development, all security agencies have taken adequate measures to enforce the directive by deploying necessary human and material resources to strategic locations nationwide to ensure the security of citizens, as well as private and public properties.
It was further gathered that security forces are already working around the clock to unravel the circumstances surrounding last Wednesday’s explosion at Karu Bridge along the Keffi-Abuja Expressway, which claimed several lives and destroyed properties.
The explosion occurred barely 24 hours after a similar incident in Rivers State, leading the Federal Government to suspect sabotage, given the threats from certain groups warning of unrest if the state of emergency in Rivers State was not immediately reversed.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate deployment of additional personnel and resources to Rivers State.
In a statement issued to journalists in Abuja, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Olumuyiwa Adejobi, explained that “this effort, undertaken in collaboration with the Armed Forces and other security agencies, is intended to bolster security, protect lives and property, and secure critical infrastructure in the state.”
According to the statement, “the Nigeria Police Force emphasises that aggrieved individuals retain the right to seek legal redress through the appropriate judicial channels. Consequently, any attempt to exploit the situation through unlawful gatherings, protests, or activities to disrupt public peace will be met with the full force of the law.”
It urged citizens to remain law-abiding, comply with all legal directives, and continue their daily activities without fear, while warning individuals or groups with criminal intent to stay away from Rivers State.
According to the statement, “security forces are fully prepared to take decisive action against any threats to the peace and stability of the state.”
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has also made it clear that it will not stand by and allow individuals or groups to undermine the nation’s security.
Speaking with defence correspondents in Abuja on the emerging security threats, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kanye, assured the public that there was no cause for concern, as field commanders were well-equipped to maintain law and order in their areas of jurisdiction. He reiterated that the Armed Forces of Nigeria would defend the nation’s democracy.
It was also gathered that security measures have been further strengthened at the nation’s borders—air, land, and waterways—to ward off criminal elements, while joint security patrols by various security agencies are being conducted regularly.
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