7th November, 2011
General Owoeye Andrew Azazi, the National Security Adviser has accused the United States Embassy in Nigeria of spreading unnecessary panic over its claims that the Boko Haram fundamentalist sect may launch attacks on three prominent hotels in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
The US embassy had yesterday alerted American citizens in Nigeria that it has information that the militant group which activities resulted into scores of death over the weekend in Damaturu, Yobe State may strike in the three top hotels highly patronised by the expatriate community during the Eid-el-kabir celebrations.
The embassy therefore warned US citizens to keep off the hotels.
But Azazi told a news agency that the alert of possibility of attack on the hotels is not a new one.
“The (U.S. statement) is eliciting unhealthy public anxiety and generating avoidable tension,” said the NSA.
He also assured that the government will continue to protect lives and property of Nigerians.
According to him, the security services have for the past three months implemented measures to prevent such attacks.
Azazi advised members of the public to go about their business without fear.
P.M.NEWS however observed that the three hotels mentioned in the US press release- the NICON LUXURY, Transcorp Hilton and Sheraton were deserted.
The usual long queues of cars waiting to be checked in by security men disappeared today.
There are fears that some of the guests may have checked out of the hotels, while others are avoiding going there as a result of the alert by the US Embassy.
Some staff of the hotels however attributed the low level of activity to the on going holiday.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in Abuja with armed policemen and soldiers deployed to favourite fun spots where revelers are rounding off sallah celebrations.