There is tension in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, following security reports of a planned strike by bandits.
With two attacks in the spate of 24 hours, security reports obtained by the Nigerian military indicate that attackers were planning to enter the nation’s capital through the Abuja-Keffi Expressway and other entry points.
Talestime9ja learnt that the troops, acting on the intelligence, were placed on red alert and deployed to strategic locations, where they have mounted security checkpoints, to prevent and arrest any potential attacker.
Motorists, especially those, who live along the Abuja-Keffi expressway in areas like Kugbo, Karu, Jikwoyi, Orozo, Karshi, Nyanya, Mararaba, One-man village, Masaka, among other satellite towns, were finding it difficult to navigate the routes as a result of checkpoints mounted by soldiers of the Guards Brigade, who are responsible for the security of the President, his immediate family, VIPs, as well as the FCT and its environs.
A military source, who pleaded for anonymity, said similar checkpoints have been mounted around Abaji, Zuba and Bwari areas to arrest suspects before they gain access into the capital city.
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The source noted that while authorities are aware of the effect of the checkpoints on residents, motorists and other road users, the security of Abuja and residents was crucial. He, therefore, asked that members of the public bear with the temporary inconvenience.
Meanwhile, unknown gunmen attacked a lecturer of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) on Wednesday despite the strict security measures mounted in the capital. This came a day after some members of staff of the university were abducted.
The lecturer, identified as Dr. David Okoroafor, was attacked in his office, at the university’s permanent site at about 11:00 a.m. The victim, who escaped his attackers, disclosed the development in a message he sent to officials of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The message read:
“Dear ASUU members and UNIABUJA community, I wish to formally bring to your notice that today, Wednesday, I was attacked in my office located at Room 6, 1st floor, Faculty of Social Science building, a permanent site.
“At exactly 10:00 a.m. when I arrived the building, opened my office and began to pray in my usual way, suddenly two men brandishing weapons bunched into the office and ordered me to lay down flat on my face or they blow me up. I pounced on them and the gun. But the duo started to hit me hard. I began to shout on the top of my voice for help.
“When my voice went higher, they ran out and students pursued after them. But when they brandished their gun, the students became afraid and ran back, giving them room to escape into the bush. But during the scuffle in my office, their car key fell off which I picked and handed over to the university security unit.”
