The Nigerian Immigration Service, military and other security agencies have beefed up security in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, after the presidency warned of a plan by terrorists to attack during the Christmas holiday.

Reacting to the warning, the NIS, via a letter titled ‘Terrorists Plan Attacks In Abuja’, alerted its officers. The letter, dated December 23, 2021,was signed by Edirin Okoto, Land Border Patrol Commander, on behalf of Idris Jere, Acting Comptroller-General of the NIS.

As stated in the letter, the terrorists were coming from Mali, and one of them had a diplomatic passport in their possession, Punch reports.

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The letter was addressed to all sector commanders and border patrol corps at the Seme, Idi Iroko, Jibia, and Illela land borders, as well as immigration officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, and the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, among others.

“The Office of the Ag CGI is in receipt of a Security Report (URGENT) from the presidency. The import is about a looming attack on Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, between 17th and 31st December, 2021. The planned attack is purportedly being led by one Drahmane Ould Ali aka Mohammed Ould Sidat, an Algerian national, to be assisted by one Zahid Aminon, a Nigerien national,” the letter reads.

“The report indicates the duo is en route Nigeria from Mali through Gan and Niger Republic, riding a white Toyota Hilux van with Reg. No- AG157EKY; that these two had four Nigerian accomplices who are already embedded in the country.

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“It is further reported that Ali holds an Algerian diplomatic passport with the name Najim Ould Ibrahim. Consequently, I am directed to request you to intensify alert levels, emplace necessary countermeasures at all our entry/exit points – air, land, sea/marine, including, but not limited to, surveillance, rigorous search on persons and vehicles, transhumance, to effectuate the immediate arrest of these terrorists/countervail this and any terrorist attacks in Abuja.”

Amos Okpo, NIS spokesman, said there was no need for panic, and residents had no reasons to worry as measures to avert danger were in place.

Okpo said, “The letter is a normal intelligence we do issue across our formations. This just happened to be in the public. There is no cause for alarm. The residents should not panic. I can assure you that the needful is being done to avert the planned attack”.

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Godfrey Abakpa, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations Guards Brigade, took the same stance, saying the army was ready to tackle any threats.

He said, “The brigade has recently been conducting several operations in the FCT to ensure it is adequately secured. The brigade is always on top of the security situations. Residents should not panic. The security situation in the FCT is under control.

“The aim of every terrorist group is to instill fear in the populace. That may be what they are trying to do. Their plans can never work; the whole security structures in the FCT is intact.”