US Issues 2 Security Alerts in 4 Days. Here’s What Security Experts Told Neusroom About The Implications For Nigeria
The United States’s directive released on Sunday, October 23 to its citizens in Nigeria warning of elevated risk of terror attack in the country particularly in Abuja has further raised concern about Nigeria’s management of terrorism in the country.
In a short message on its website, the US consulate wrote: “There is an elevated risk of terror attacks in Nigeria, specifically in Abuja. Targets may include, but are not limited to, government buildings, places of worship, schools, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, athletic gatherings, transport terminals, law enforcement facilities, and international organizations. The U.S. Embassy will offer reduced services until further notice.”
The US Depepartment of State on October 25, 2022, followed it up authrosing the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members from Abuja.
Although the Nigerian Department of State Services swiftly issued a message calling for calm noting that it has released similar directives in the past. It called on citizens to remain alert and assist security agencies with useful information regarding threats and suspicious criminal acts around them”
This however has done little to allay the fears of Nigerians. Some schools in the Federal Capital Territory have opted to move their lessons online as a precautionary measure. The assurance from the DSS will not likely result in the US withdrawing its directive according to Robert Ekat, a security expert.
He said: The US is unlikely to reverse its warning to its citizens, as the DSS does not have a track record of making good use of intelligence to prevent terrorist attacks.”
As predicted by the security expert, the United States Department of State released another directive On October 27, 2022, ordering “the departure of family members of U.S. government employees from Abuja due to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks there.”
The reason for the heightened fear may not be unconnected to the series of violent attacks that have racked Abuja in the past couple of months. In July, Boko Haram terrorists broke into Kuje maximum prison in a night raid that led to the death of seven people while 600 prisoners were set free. President Muhammadu Buhari expressed disappointment over the security architect of the nation when he visited the prison shortly after the attack.
Also, the Abuja/Kaduna train attack carried out by suspected Boo Haram terrorists in March that led to the killing of Dr Chinelo Megafu as well as the kidnap of other passengers as hostages who were later released after various payments of ransom and reported prisoner swap has further made it difficult to dismiss the US’ security concern.
All countries face terror scares according to Ekat. However, in Nigeria’s case, not much has been done to instil confidence both in the minds of citizens and foreigners. According to the security expert, the latest US directive does not portray Nigeria as a safe haven for investors as “it may be interpreted that Nigeria is not a safe place, scaring investors away from the country.”
Kabir Adamu, a security expert who is also the managing director of Beacon Consulting also shares the opinion that the security directive would have an adverse effect on Nigeria’s tourism sector. He told Neusroom that the industry relies on international visitors and any whiff of terror will affect its growth.
He said: “As you may be aware, following the US alert several corporate organizations have either shut down their operations or ordered work from home for indefinite periods of time, schools have also been shut down (although the FCTA administration stepped in and ordered them to resume operations), diplomatic missions suspended consular services as well as other public engagements.
“Additionally, hotels had guests who had reserved accommodation cancel or who were in the country and had intended to stay longer and have now shortened their stay. There is also the case of corporate entities that had planned events such as board meetings, conferences etc all canceled. All these have a negative effect on the local economy. The specific effect on the hospitality industry is debilitating given that it relies heavily on international visitors, who have now canceled their stay or visit as a result of the alerts.”
Despite the threat of attack, the security expert is of the opinion that Nigeria has been relatively safe since 2015. He noted that apart from the Kuje prison attack, the city has been relatively safe. However, any successful attack will make it vulnerable again.
He said: “There are vulnerabilities that can be exploited to carry out attacks in FCT Abuja. Additionally, the potential media coverage that a successful attack in FCT Abuja carries means the city will always remain the focus of both ideological and political terrorists as well as others in the fringes of these two. However, the security forces operations in the FCT Abuja have so far succeeded in deterring any attack. We remain to see whether this will continue.”
As Nigeria is set to conduct one of its most important presidential elections in history, many will be hoping that security will be at the top of the interest of whoever emerges victorious. Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party who has won the interest of Nigerian youths has reiterated that he would deal with insecurity decisively vowing to sack security chiefs who fail to do their job if he becomes president.
