Churches and some public centres in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Abuja, have taken measures to fortify their worship centres following the security threat, issued by the United States (UK) and United Kingdom (UK) embassies in the past few days.
Several churches have put internal security measures in place during Sunday and weekday services.
The tension in Abuja and its environs began at the weekend, when the US and the UK warned of a possible terrorist attack in the nation’s capital, saying the terrorists are aiming at government facilities, places of worship, and schools, among others.
According to reports, worship centers, churches and mosques have tightened security in and around Abuja to ensure safety of worshippers in the FCT. In several churches across the FCT worshippers are duly screened before entering church auditoriums, while heavily armed-bearing security agents were deployed in many churches within the city centre and outskirts, to ensure safety.
Also, several government and private establishments have also reportedly been shutting down operations over the fear of attack by the daredevil terrorists that have over the years kept the country hostage. It was gathered that many people have travelled out of Abuja to put up in other States for fear of the attack.
Although most of the streets were deserted and church parking lots scanty, residents have remained in their homes. A drive around Life Camp, Kado, Wuse, Mabushi, Airport Road, Jabi, Jahi, amongst others, revealed that security operatives were not handling the red flags with kid gloves. Most soft targets like shopping malls, the Central Business District areas and government infrastructure in the city have been adequately manned by security operatives.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba has continued to allay the fears of residents in FCT and environs as he ordered massive deployment of additional police operatives and operational assets within Abuja and environs to beef up security and protection of life and property of residents, critical national assets and vulnerable facilities as well as road users plying routes in and around the FCT.
