Following fears of an alleged impending invasion of Abuja by terrorists and armed bandits, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command (FCT) Wednesday ordered the deployment of personnel in the borders with contiguous states even as it pushed back against messages circulating on social media of an alleged attack on the University of Abuja by armed criminals.
In the same vein, the Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday described it as false, circulating messages of an impending invasion of Lagos, Port Harcourt and Ilorin by the terrorist group, Boko Haram.
Panic had gripped FCT residents following the declaration by the Niger State Governor, Mr. Sani Bello, that Boko Haram had sacked 50 villages in the state and that the terror group had hoisted a flag in the state.
He said Abuja, a two-hour drive from the state, was not safe as well, a position that created panic in the nation’s capital.
But a statement signed by the spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, ASP Yusuf Mariam, said the seat of power was safe.
It said the command had deployed personnel to FCT borders with other states.
“The FCT Police Command wishes to reassure residents of adequate protection of lives and property in the Federal Capital Territory.
“Therefore, the Commissioner of Police, CP Bala Ciroma, has deployed overt and covert strategies to curb banditry and criminal activities particularly on the borders of the territory.
“In addition, the commissioner of police has launched an advance collaborative approach to address the security concerns. On this note, we wish to reaffirm our undeterred resolve towards the protection of lives and property within the Federal Capital Territory,” it said even as it implored residents to report all suspicious movements, emergency or distress, through police numbers.
In an earlier statement, the FCT police command debunked another circulating message that University of Abuja was attacked by armed bandits on Tuesday night.
The separate statement said the University of Abuja was not attacked by armed bandits.
It said the Commissioner of Police, Ciroma, had ordered uninterrupted patrols around schools within the FCT.
Meanwhile, the DSS has debunked claims that there were plans by terrorists to invade Lagos, Port Harcourt and Ilorin.
In a short statement, the spokesman of the DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya, said the message was false.
Chuks Okocha and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
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