The US embassy in Nigeria warned on Wednesday that Islamist group
Boko Haram may be planning attacks in the capital Abuja, including
against hotels frequented by Westerners.
“The US embassy has received information that Boko Haram may be
planning attacks in Abuja, Nigeria, including against hotels frequently
visited by Westerners,” an emergency message to US citizens on its
website said.
“The US government has no additional information regarding the timing
of these possible attacks. The Nigerian government is aware of the
threat and is actively implementing security measures.”
It gave no further information on the threats.
A police spokesman told AFP “we are not aware of any special threat of attacks by Boko Haram or any individual or group.”
“However, police are ever ready and prepared to deal with any
situation and security threat to Nigerians and foreigners living in
Abuja or any other parts of the country,” said Olusola Amore.
The US issued a similar message in November that drew harsh criticism
in Nigeria. No attacks occurred in Abuja in the wake of the November
warning.
A US diplomat at the time however said the warning was based on
specific and credible information, adding that the embassy had no choice
but to warn American citizens.
Boko Haram has carried out scores of attacks, mainly in Nigeria’s
predominately Muslim north, that have killed more than 1,000 people
since mid-2009.
It claimed responsibility for the August suicide bombing of UN headquarters in Abuja which claimed at least 25 lives.
The group’s deadliest attack yet occurred in the northern city of
Kano in January, when coordinated bombings and shootings left at least
185 people dead.
Despite heavy-handed raids and a number of high-profile arrests, Nigerian authorities have appeared unable to stop the attacks.
An attempt to hold indirect talks between Boko Haram and the
government in March collapsed after a mediator quit over leaks to the
media and the Islamists said they could not trust government officials.
Authorities blamed the deaths of a British and an Italian hostage in
northwestern Nigeria in March on a faction of Boko Haram. A spokesman
for what is believed to be the main branch of the group however denied
any involvement.
US Ambassador to Nigeria Terence McCulley recently urged Nigeria to
focus on development in its impoverished north as well as security to
bring an end to an onslaught of deadly attacks blamed on Boko Haram.
Analysts say poverty and frustration in the north have pushed young people toward extremism.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and largest oil producer with
some 160 million people, is roughly divided between a mainly Muslim
north and predominately Christian south.
The oil-producing south is wealthier and more educated, stoking resentment in the north.
Courtesy: Vanguardnews
No comments:
Post a Comment