Security beefed up at Aso Rock over militants’ threat

Security was on Tuesday beefed up at the Presidential Villa, Abuja apparently as a result of threats made by the Niger Delta militants on Monday to bomb some selected national formations including the seat of power, the National Assembly and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The militants had in a statement urged occupants of the government premises to leave as it resumes a full-blown war against the Nigerian government.

But our correspondent observed that a number of riot policemen were deployed in the two main gates into the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.

The policemen complemented the efforts of soldiers and officials of the Department of State Services who always mount security surveillance the gates.

The affected gates were the ones leading to the Presidential Villa from the Fire Service Office and the Supreme Court complex.

The riot policemen were stationed a few metres away from the spot occupied by the DSS operatives and the soldiers.

After the policemen had carried out their checks on vehicles entering the Presidential Villa, the DSS officials as well as the soldiers would also carry out their duties too.

The militants under the aegis of the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force had threatened to destroy any vital government institution built with oil and gas resources from the Niger Delta region.

In a statement issued on behalf of the militant group in Warri by General  Akotebe Darikoro (Commander, General Duties), General Torunanaowei Latei (Creeks Network Coordinator), General Agbakakuro Owei-Tauro (Expert, Pipelines Bleeding) and General Pulokiri Ebiladei (Intelligence Bureau) of the JNDLF’s Joint Revolutionary Council, the militants also threatened to attack national assets in cities, such as Lagos, Abuja and Kaduna in the days ahead.

Although the specific date which the group would commence its operation was not stated in the release, they however warned residents and employees of such buildings to vacate so as not to fall victims of the attacks.

The statement added that the group would fire missiles simultaneously in the night to enable every Nigerians to see their movements.

The militants said this was to show their seriousness about actualising the nation’s breakable prospect, as predicted by the United States of America.

Other points also marked for attack by the militant group include the Defence Headquarters, the Department of State Services Headquarters, Police Headquarters, the NNPC Towers, Supreme Court/Appeal Court and Agip Headquarters, Abuja.

Some others are Shell Headquarters, Lagos; Chevron Headquarters, Lagos; Exxon Mobil, Lagos; NLNG, Lagos; and Abuja offices; Kaduna refinery; and all military formations in the country.