A United States travel advisory on October 23 and similar security alerts by many western embassies to their citizens have sparked panic and disrupted life in Abuja, with the police claiming the intelligence was not shared with them. Nine days after, there is no record of any such attack in the capital city. Experts say closer intelligence cooperation would have resulted in better handling of any imminent security threat and saved Nigerians the worry. ROBERT EGBE reports.
Unlike most Abuja residents, Gideon (pseudonym) likes to pride himself in his knowledge of security matters. After all, he has been a defence/security reporter for a few years now with reliable contacts in the country’s security sector. But even he was caught unawares on October 23, when the United States issued a travel advisory to its citizens, warning of a high “terror” threat in the capital city.
“I was shocked,” he told The Nation. “There was no sign at all of anything like that in the air. Of course, there has been uneasiness about security in Abuja in recent months, but this? A terror alert? Haba!”
Gideon was not the only “knowledgeable” person ambushed by the announcement. The government and security agencies appeared to have also been caught off guard.
The first advisory, titled “SECURITY NOTICE – ELEVATED RISK OF TERROR ATTACKS – OCTOBER 23, 2022”, was issued by the United States Mission in Nigeria and released by the U.S Embassy in Abuja,
It reads: “There is an elevated risk of terror attacks in Nigeria, specifically in Abuja. Targets may include, but are not limited to, government buildings, places of worship, schools, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, athletic gatherings, transport terminals, law enforcement facilities, and international organisations.”
The statement advised US citizens to “Avoid all non-essential travel or movement. Stay alert. Avoid crowds. Review your personal security plans and keep your cell phone charged in case of emergency. Carry proper identification.”
The U.S. Embassy said it would offer reduced services until further notice. Three days later, the US began evacuating its non-emergency staff from Abuja over the fear of a possible terror attack.
The embassies of Denmark, Ireland, Bulgaria, Finland and Germany in Abuja also raised similar alerts following that of the US and UK.
In yet another security alert-cum-travel advisory midweek, tagged “Nigeria Level 3,” the US government warned its citizens to avoid travelling to 14 states due to insecurity. The states are Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, and Gombe in Northeast; Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Zamfara in North-west; Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, and Rivers states in South-south.
It warned its citizens not to travel due to what it called “crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and maritime crime.” However, no state was mentioned in Northcentral, Southwest and Southeast zones.
Panic in Abuja
On Friday, November 27, 2017 security agents in the United Kingdom responded to reports of shots being fired on London’s Oxford Street on one of the busiest evenings of the year as shoppers took advantage of Black Friday sales. Nearly an hour later, police declared there was no evidence of gunfire, and that the false alarm stemmed from an altercation between two men. But in that short period, there were reports that hundreds of people panicked, barricaded themselves inside shops and bars, and took to social media to raise the alarm.
Like in London, the US and UK travel advisory, has sparked panic and tension in Abuja, with many residents of the city – prepared for the worst – staying away from large gatherings, shopping malls and fun spots. Vehicular traffic was also reportedly reduced on some major roads at the weekend. Businesses were also affected, with construction giant Julius Berger, closing down operations in the city. Talk of the security scare has dominated electronic and print media across the country. Surely, the great US of A would not issue such an alert lightly. Or would it? Over a week later, Abuja is still standing.
US didn’t have deep-dive type of discussion with us – South Africa
The US also followed suit in South Africa with a warning last Wednesday that one of the country’s wealthiest suburbs may be the target of an attack last weekend, and advised its staff members to avoid crowds of people and other large public gatherings.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office also issued a travel warning echoing the US statement.
But South African President Cyril Ramaphosa criticised the US for failing to discuss the terror alert issued by the American Embassy with local authorities.
“It was quite unfortunate that the US government issued that type of warning without having had a deep-dive type of discussion with us,” Ramaphosa said last Thursday at a briefing in the capital, Pretoria.
“It is unfortunate that another government should issue such a threat as to send panic among our people.”
The authorities are working to verify the threat, and the government will issue an alert if need be, he said.
Nigeria kicks
To say the Nigerian government was displeased, is to put it mildly.
The Inspector-General of Police, Akali Baba Usman, pooh-poohed the alert, wondering why the intelligence was not shared with the authorities beforehand if it was true.
“How can you enter the country and say there is a security alert, you didn’t inform the police, and you go around telling your people don’t go to Abuja, return from Abuja,” Usman reportedly said last Saturday while inaugurating a modern police station and barracks in Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State.
He added: “When you have information on security, it is proper to inform the police and we will find a way to tackle it, instead of taking it to the public.
“I am urging the media not to help them spread such information. We are working in synergy with other security agencies to ensure the safety of residents”
Similarly, President Muhammadu Buhari, who returned to Abuja on Saturday after a six-day official visit to South Korea, said travel advice from the US and UK governments should not be a cause for panic.
Reference the travel advisory, Buhari said: “It does not mean an attack in Abuja is imminent. Since the July prison raid, security measures have been reinforced in and around the FCT. Heightened monitoring and interception of terrorist communications ensure potential threats are caught further upstream.
The President stressed that while being security conscious, being alert and careful is crucial, it is also important that responsible members of the society do not create situations leading to unnecessary panic.
DSS confirms US security alert
However, the DSS through its spokesperson Dr. Peter Afunanya said the alert was similar to that which was recently issued by the Service.
Read Also: Security heightened at NASS over terror alerts
Reacting to the development last Sunday, he said: “The Department of State Services has received several enquiries relating to the security advisory issued by the US Embassy in Abuja, today, October 23, 2022.
“The public may recall that the Service had variously issued similar warnings in the past.”
The Nation recalls that the DSS on March 19, April 26, 2022, and December 14, 2021, warned about impending bomb and violent attacks and plans by elements to attack public places. Nigerians dismissed those and were never alarmed.
US acted under duty to protect, says don
Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence, Prof. Akin Oyebode explained that the US move is in accordance with international law.
Oyebode said: “It is the right and prerogative of every state to do whatever it can to protect its citizens from avoidable injury or harm whether at home or abroad. This is what is known under international law as the duty to protect.
“Accordingly, it is futile to take umbrage against the US for taking due diligence and action to remove its nationals from harm’s way whether in Nigeria, South Africa or elsewhere.”
What Nigeria must do
Oyebode advised Nigeria “to take pre-emptive action in light of the US advice to protect and secure its nationals.
“It should be remembered that US nationals suffered gravely from terrorist attacks in Kenya and Tanzania some years ago and would not wish to become victims in a country like ours that is reputed to be among the world’s most exposed countries to terrorist attacks.
“The activities of the Boko Haram, ISWAP and other terrorist groups, not to talk of bandits and sundry bloodthirsty insurrectionist gangs are rife that the international community can only ignore to their peril.
“The earlier Nigeria upped its war against forces trying to overthrow the state, the better for all concerned instead of crying over spilt milk.”
Experts: better intelligence cooperation necessary
An international lawyer, Charles Adeogun-Phillips, noted that foreign countries have a duty to protect their citizens.
Adeogun-Phillips, a former United Nations genocide and war crimes prosecutor, said: “While it has been reported that some security operatives deny the said alerts as mischievous, it’s also been reported that the Department of State Security confirms the alerts as similar to the one recently issued by them. Further, the Minister of Information has stated that Nigeria would not be stampeded by whatever any country tells its citizens.
“From all indications, what the US and the UK embassies did was just to issue travel advisories to their citizens. The embassies would have issued the said security alert to their staff using internal memos. However, since the embassies are to watch out for their citizens in foreign countries, it would have been necessary for them to also issue such a travel advisory for such citizens.”
Nevertheless, he made a case for better intelligence sharing.
Adeogun-Phillips said: “The embassies would have known such an alert would cause panic in the host country, and normally, such intelligence would have been shared with the intelligence agencies of the host country first. It would have been irresponsible of the embassies to go public with such information without consulting the relevant local security agencies first.
“My understanding is that at least the DSS works with foreign intelligence agencies on such matters, and it appears the DSS was not caught unawares by the alerts. They confirm the similarity of the alerts with recent alerts issued by them.
“Perhaps what is happening is a conflict of approach, with the said embassies wanting to alert their citizens to dangers but Nigerian intelligence wanting to take some other approach. I am sure that irrespective of the government’s reaction to the alerts in the media, serious steps are being taken by the appropriate authorities to forestall any security breaches in the country.”
SAN-designate Wahab Shittu agreed on the need for consultation among countries
Shittu, an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission prosecutor (EFCC) as well as a law teacher at the University of Lagos, said: “Terrorism is an international crime with domestic and international dimensions. To that extent countries across jurisdictions including the US are entitled to take measures to stem the tide of the menace.
“It is submitted that such measures include deploying preventive and proactive measures, strengthening international co-operation, deploying intelligence measures, offering technical assistance, sharing information exchanges amongst others.”
He said the alarm raised by the US “is within the context of these measures.”
Shittu added: “Despite the foregoing, however, the approach also matters. I agree that the US ought to consult and share this information with the Nigerian Government privately first before disclosure in the public space, through diplomatic channels to avoid needless panic among the citizens.
“Beyond this, the issue of safety and security of citizens in the face of growing Terrorism in the land raises serious concerns and ought not to be treated with kid gloves.
“The alarm may also have had some positive impact in the sense that citizens and their respective countries would take measures to safeguard the safety, health and security of their citizens.”
Security/ Intelligence expert, Kabir Adamu, also decried the apparently poor intelligence sharing between the US and Nigeria.
Adamu, who spoke on Trust TV last Sunday, agreed that it is the statutory responsibility of the US government to protect US citizens.
“If they have intelligence that can affect their citizens, they have to share it to protect their citizens,” he said.
“But then, they are not in their country, they are in another country and so that is guided by international relations and diplomatic principles, so, where foreign embassies, especially a friendly ally and I emphasise that word ‘ally’. If you are an ally, a friendly one, and is aware of information or intelligence that could affect the host country, the established practice is to share that information with the government.
“Now, in this instance, at least based on the response by the police and by the DSS (Department of State) Services, one can conclusively say that those two organisations were not aware of that intelligence.
“I took those statements and tried to go through them with a fine-tooth comb and they invariably indicated that they are receiving that information and they are going to use it as an extra feed on their intelligence. This is different from saying ‘No, we are aware and we are taking so and so action.”
“So, clearly, based on those two responses, it appears that the US government or its embassy did not share that information with them which is not in convention with normal diplomatic practice.
“Now, they can argue, for instance, that it is the usual advisory, but this is different because it indicated a terror alert and they cited locations that could be targeted, with the implication that they were relying on intelligence by putting that out there.”