•Construction giant Julius Berger shuts operations in Abuja
•Protest in Abuja police estate over security threats, violation of building plan
The Police High Command has described as unfounded the terror alert issued by the United States and other western countries last week.
The Police authorities said the alert was issued to create fear.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Saturday, also dismissed the alleged massive planting of bombs everywhere in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Abuja and its environs as false and fake news which should be ignored
His words: “It is surprising and disheartening to read in the news and on social media that bombs are being planted in every area of the Federal Capital Territory, even from some individuals who are presumed to be peace ambassadors and patriotic agents of national unity in Nigeria.
“I don’t think it will do our country any good to continually spread such fearful rumour to further create more panic among citizens and residents of the FCT and Nigeria at large.
“We still reiterate that the Federal Capital Territory is safe and there is no imminent threat, neither is the FCT being saturated with bombs as speculated in the news
“We, therefore, urge residents of the FCT and Nigerians at large to disregard this fake news which was purportedly sponsored to create fear in our people and heat up the polity.
“We will continue to adopt all effective operational strategies to decimate the activities of non-state actors and other criminal elements in the country”.
Following the growing anxiety generated by the terror alert, foremost construction company, Julius Berger, yesterday, announced that it was shutting down its operations in the FCT.
A popular shopping centre, Jabi Lake Mall, had earlier shut down its operations till further notice in the FCT.
Julius Berger, in a statement signed by the company’s Managing Director and Corporate Security Manager, Engr. Lars Bichter and Poul Nielsen respectively, advised its staff to avoid public premises during the weekend.
“In response to the ongoing security concern within the FCT and Central Abuja, it is advised to avoid all public events within the FCT environment, including: supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, bars, clubs and other areas where many meet. This advice is applicable from 28.10.2022 in the evening until Monday, 31.10.2022 in the morning.
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“It remains possible to move to other JBN work or residential locations throughout the weekend.
“Your safety is our primary concern.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Josephine Adeh, said; “I don’t know anything about it.”
Meanwhile, residents of Kurudu Police Estate, Abuja, have protested against what they described as high security threats by armed robbers, violation of building plans and poor basic amenities.
They blocked the entrance of the police estate preventing vehicles from moving in and out to drive home their demands.
The protesters in large numbers displayed placards with different inscriptions calling on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello and the Inspector General of Police, (IGP), Usman Baba to intervene
They also chanted various songs of displeasure.
Vice Chairman of Kurudu Police Estate Owners and Residents Associations, Mr. Oregbesan Olalekan, said about 30 letters had been written to the office of the IGP through the office of the FCT Commissioner of Police but all to no avail.
Olalekan said armed robbers were disturbing owners and residents of the estate and also accused the contractor of mishandling the affairs of the estate.
He said: “We want to make sure that our habitation in this estate is better. It will interest you to know that the developer who is a contractor has a time line. This is a police estate which would have been one of the best if the right thing was done.
“ The approved plans have been distorted. Where was marked out for recreation has been turned into a residential area. We now have a boarding school around a beer parlour and night club. We are opened to the community. We are not safe. We have more than 10 porous entrances into this estate.
“Armed robbers attack us at will without respite. Our family members are not safe. Almost everything is going wrong in this estate. We have written about 30 protest letters to the IGP through the Commissioner of Police to come to our rescue but all to no avail.
“We call on the FCT minister and the IGP to come to our aid. We are suffering. The contractor is making life unbearable for us in this estate.
“We cannot go on like this. We need help. We are paying for basic amenities but yet nothing is in place. The security of lives and property in this estate is nothing to write home about. People are afraid to come home at night because of the insecurity in this estate.”