The Nigeria Immigration Service has issued a warning over a planned terrorist attack within the nation’s capital, Abuja, by some foreign terrorists during the yuletide season.
This was made known in a letter dated 23 December, entitled: ‘Terrorists Plan Attacks In Abuja’, and signed by Edirin Okoto, the Land Border Patrol Commander, on behalf of Idris Jere, the acting Comptroller General of Immigration Service.
According to the immigration authorities in the letter, to which it copied all sector commanders and border patrol corps in the country, the information regarding the planned attack emanated from the Presidency.
The service stated that the terrorists were coming from Mali, one of whom possessed a diplomatic passport.
The letter read: “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 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.
“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.”
Following the security alert, it was gathered that the military and other security agencies have intensified security within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), particularly the Abuja metropolis.
