President Muhammadu Buhari canceled his planned appearance to launch a new building in Abuja on Sunday after the Nigerian capital was threatened with terrorist strikes.
Mr. Buhari will meet top national security officials at the State House rather than attend the inauguration of the new Technology and Innovation Complex for the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
According to Mr. Shehu, Mr. Buhari and his staff will “further review and strengthen the security network in the country” in addition to “intervening” in specific matters that needed immediate attention for reasons of national security.
The news comes days after statements were released by foreign embassies in Nigeria, including those from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and European Union, warning of potential terrorist strikes in Abuja.
The missions were compelled by the threats to send instructions to their citizens in Nigeria to promptly leave the country through their own means. The U.S. Embassy in Abuja evacuated staff personnel and their families throughout the week.
Earlier, Mr. Buhari and his information minister, Lai Mohammed, scorned the foreign missions for sending out unneeded alarm signals that drove businesses and schools to close all throughout the nation’s capital and dismissed the threats as “unconfirmed.”
The Indicate House statement did not immediately state whether or not the administration has now received reliable information about a potential attack, but an official told Peoples Gazette that the threats were the reason the president’s scheduled appearance was abruptly cancelled. The officer made no further comments as he requested anonymity to speak freely about internal matters.
