The NSA added that the armed forces, security and intelligence agencies were on alert to ensure that the country was safe.
Monguno stated, “We just concluded a sitting, an emergency meeting of the National Security Council, which was held at the behest of Mr President. We have just concluded the meeting and the meeting basically, was to discuss recent happenings within the FCT and certain declarations and alerts coming from various quarters, insinuating growing insecurity and threat to security within the FCT and environments.
“In rounding off, I will like to first and foremost, assure all the citizens of this country that any exaggerated sense of insecurity, any hype about the disintegration of our security forces, and intelligence agencies, is unfounded. I want to assure Nigerians that so far, the situation has been under control, and the intelligence and security agencies have made a lot of arrests. They are evaluating and exploiting all the materials in their possession.’’
Speaking further, Monguno said, “We are not in the habit of disclosing whatever has been done but the most important thing is that from the time this story started emerging until now, about a week to 10 days, you can see that so far the situation has been brought under control.
“The issue of Nigerians being made to panic is unnecessary. The situation in various areas of the Federal Capital Territory, the situation has been brought under control and we’re trying as much as possible to work with our neighbours and within the domestic situation, to work with our foreign partners responsibly, without giving the impression that Nigeria is skating on thin ice and we are about to implode; that I will want to dispel any illusion about any heightened sense of insecurity.
‘’It is false, it is irresponsible for anybody to give that signal. We are working with our foreign partners in a responsible way and Nigerians should go about their normal daily undertakings without being put in a situation of fear.”
Also speaking, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor assured that the nation’s armed forces are doing everything to keep the situation under control, saying that Nigerians should go about their normal business without fear.
Irabor stated “Just to also indicate that, as mentioned by the National Security Adviser, to use the opportunity to assure Nigerians that the armed forces, the police and other security agencies are working around the clock to ensure that lives and properties of Nigerians are protected and so far, there is no cause for alarm.
‘’Nigerians should go about their normal duties as the armed forces and other security agencies are well poised to protect them accordingly. Perhaps, to use this opportunity to mention that; I am sure some of you may have seen in the media, or amongst you, that on the night of 29th, October 2002, Wawa Cantonment in Niger State was attacked.
‘’Of course, the alertness of the troops led to the neutralisation of the attackers and the vehicles, that were laden with IED and other items, were impounded and five of those attackers were equally arrested.’’
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, in his remarks, said the Nigerian government is working with foreign missions to address insecurity.Related News
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He noted “There is a foreign dimension to this issue as alerts are always issued by foreign countries, with missions here in Nigeria. Now, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, have been working very closely to fully get on top of the situation, and also to engage with our foreign partners, first of all, to mitigate and blunt any threat that there could be from outside the country. We are also working and engaging with the Foreign Missions within the country to ensure that whatever we do, whatever we say, is constructive and should not, in any way, cause unnecessary alarm, and in any way destabilize the country.
“So, just to reassure the country that we are in full engagement with foreign partners and that our security personnel and agencies are fully on top of the situation and that as they have said, there’s no cause for alarm. We want to push more for greater coordination and synergy with our foreign partners and make sure that that cooperation with them is a constructive one, not an alarmist one.”
Those who attended the meeting include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari; the Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Magashi (retd.); Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi.
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Also present were the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Farouk Yahaya; the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, and the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj Gen Samuel Adebayo.
Presidency backs NSA
When asked for comments on the issue, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said Buhari’s assurance to Nigerians remained firm.
He stated, “We had a security council meeting today. The NIA and CDS Lucky Irabor addressed the media after the security meeting. Most importantly, the President has addressed the issue and assured Nigerians already.”
Despite the NSA’s assurances, the management of the highbrow Transcorp Hilton hotel has said it will henceforth halt operations at 9 pm following the security advisories.
Disclosing this in a memo dated October 28, 2022, addressed to the hotel’s staff and business partners, the hotel also said that its workers were now required to wear their identity badges at all times.
The memo signed by the General Manager, Bulent Tarlen, titled ‘security protocol,’ read in part, ‘’Thank you for your continuous patronage and collaboration with Transcorp Hilton, Abuja over the years.
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