NSCDC: Terrorists planning attacks on Lagos, FCT, Katsina, 3 others – Nexus News
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has informed all its state commands on an impending attack subsequent to intelligence reports that Boko Haram terrorists, as well as those of Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, have heightened plots to attack the nation’s capital, Abuja, and five other states, including Lagos.
This came as military sources acknowledged, yesterday, that a Lieutenant and five military men were still missing after last Sunday’s attack on troops of 7 Guards Battalion and 176 Battalion of Guards Brigade by gunmen in Abuja, which left an Army captain dead.
In the leaked memo, dated July 25 and signed by the Deputy Commandant General, DCG, Operations, Dauda Mungadi, which was sent to all state commands of the NSCDC, the Corps stated that two separate bandit groups have also concluded plans to attack Abuja and others.
The memo read: “We have received credible intelligence that Boko-Haram and the ISWAP terrorist groups have mobilised fighters and high calibre weapons, particularly Rocket Propelled Grenades, RPG, launchers, Anti-Aircraft, AA, guns and General Purpose Machine Guns, GPMGS, which they intend to deploy for the offensive in Katsina State.
“In another development, two separate bandit groups are plotting coordinated attacks on North-West, North-Central and South-West (Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi, FCT and Lagos), respectively.
“Consequently the Commandant-General has directed you to scale up deployment in all strategic places including schools, worship centers and critical national assets in your respective states to checkmate any possible threats by these criminal elements. Please treat it as urgent.”
There has been apprehension in the nation’s capital and other states of the country, following increased attacks on security formations, as well as the Presidential Guards, in Abuja.
Also, yesterday, military sources affirmed that a Lieutenant and five military men were still missing after last Sunday’s attack on troops of 7 Guards Battalion and 176 Battalion of Guards Brigade, by terrorists, in Abuja, which led to the death of an Army Captain dead.
This is just as it has emerged that both Captain Samuel Attah, who was killed, and Lieutenant Ibrahim Suleiman, who is among those still missing in action, are indigenes of Kogi State.
Sources informed Newsmen that while those who sustained injuries during the attack were receiving medical attention at a military medical facility in Abuja, efforts were currently on to find and rescue the missing officers.
A source, however, noted that it is possible that some soldiers, who escaped the ambush with bullet wounds, may have paid the supreme price but stated that until they were found, they would still be tagged as missing in action, MIA.
Recall that spokesman of Guards Brigade, Captain Godfrey Abakpa, had affirmed, on Monday, that terrorists attacked troops attached to the Presidential Guards Brigade, as they were conducting patrols in Bwari area, as a result of intelligence that the Nigeria Law School, Bwari, may be ambushed.
Authorities of the Law School were revealed to have informed the public that terrorists had dropped a letter announcing an imminent attack.
Captain Abakpa stated that it was when troops responded to the fears of the Law School and occupants of the area that the terrorists attacked the soldiers who were already searching the vicinity to find and flush out the terrorists.
The late Captain Samuel Attah is disclosed to be the son of a retired Colonel in the Nigerian Army, Col. Ahmodu Babanawa, who is an indigene of Ibaji/Okpo in Olamaboro Local Government Area.
Late Attah was from Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State.
“However, the Nigerian Army said last night it recorded three casualties when its troops from the guards brigade’s 7 battalion were attacked by terrorists in Abuja on Sunday.
Speaking of the ambush, Godfrey Abakpa, spokesperson of the brigade, noted that no soldier was kidnapped by the gunmen, but said that the troops recorded three casualties in the attack.
“No soldier was abducted; we only had three casualties and they were evacuated,” he said.
He also noted that the troops had chased ‘the criminals’ from the vicinity and had continued an exploitation operation within the areas of the attack.
IGP orders deployment of additional assets, manpower to increase Abuja’s security
Also yesterday, the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman, directed the deployment of additional assets to tighten security in Abuja.
Read Also: Fear grips residents in Abuja over attack on soldiers by terrorists
Revealing this last night, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, noted that the Police was leaving no stone unturned to ensure adequate security of lives and property for residents.
He said: “We are not leaving any stone unturned to fortify the Federal Capital Territory and its environs.
“The IGP has ordered additional deployment of assets to strategic areas of the FCT, while the Force Intelligence Bureau has been charged with robust intelligence gathering and information sharing among other agencies.
“All residents of the FCT are urged to synergize and be on the same page with the Police and other security agencies in making sure that we forestall any ugly incidents in and around the FCT.”
Meanwhile, Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has expressed grief over the death of Army officials killed during the attack on the Presidential Brigade Guard on Sunday by suspected gunmen after the Army officers reacted to a distress call from the Nigeria Law School, Bwari.
Bello in a press release by his Chief Press Secretary, Muhammed Onogwu, yesterday, noted that it was more disheartening that two of the fallen gallant officers, namely Captain Samuel Attah and Lieutenant Ibrahim Suleiman, were illustrious sons of Kogi State.
The governor berated the terrorists attack, depicting it as a dastardly act and a show of cowardice, while imploring the authorities to expedite actions and ensure the apprehension of those responsible to prevent a recurrence.
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