° Mount roadblocks
There was palpable tension in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Abuja, Wednesday as soldiers mounted roadblocks on strategic locations following reports of the planned invasion of the city by some bandits and terrorists.
It was gathered that security reports obtained by the military late Tuesday night revealed that the attackers who are fleeing the heavy military onslaught in the Northwest part of the country were planning to enter the FCT, through the Abuja/Keffi expressway and other entry points.
To this end, soldiers and various security agencies have been placed on red alert to counter the invasion of criminals into the city.
Already the Guards Brigade Nigerian Army has deployed its soldiers to strategic locations where they mounted checkpoints to monitor and arrest the attackers. Similarly, the Army Headquarters garrisons have also deployed its soldiers to strategic spots to give the attackers the battle of their life.
This is just as the joint security task force in the FCT has been holding a marathon of meetings over the incident which is putting fears into the hearts of residents.
Specifically, the soldiers have mounted roadblocks at all the entry and exit points into the FCT, and conducted a stop and search on specific vehicles and passengers.
The operation which started midnight Tuesday is said to have led to the arrest of some suspects who are now helping the security operatives with useful information.
Motorists especially those who live along the Abuja/Keffi expressway like Kugbo, Karu, Jokwoyi, Orozo, Karshi, Nyanya, Mararaba, one-man village, Masaka among other satellite towns are finding it difficult to pass through the road as a result of the roadblock mounted by soldiers of Guards Brigade who are responsible for the security of the president, his immediate family, Very Important Personalities(VIP), as well as the FCT and its environs.
A military source who does not want to be mentioned in print told Daily Sun that similar checkpoints have been mounted around Abaji, Zuba, and Bwari areas to arrest the suspects before they gain access into the city.
The source further revealed that the joint task force has commenced the raid of all black spots in the FCT and that some suspects have been arrested. The source who confided in Cornerstone News said that intelligence gathered in the last few days have revealed the planned attack and that the influx of motorcycle riders who have continued to troop into the FCT, on
a daily basis in their large numbers and taking refuge in was giving the military and security concerns as kidnapping and attacks on villages in the FCT was becoming almost a daily affair.
The source said that the invasion of the university of Abuja early Tuesday morning by bandits who abducted some staff members and their families, may not be unconnected to the security alert even as soldiers are in hot pursuit to apprehend the criminals.
Sources say there is suspicion that some villagers may have connived and worked with the criminals who attackers the university staff quarters as it took some time before they could alert the police, who in turn alerted soldiers of 176 Guards Battalion located around Gwagwalada. Unfortunately by the time they got there the criminals had escaped. It was also gathered that the nonfencing of the university premises and location of the staff quarters said to be right inside the bush, made it very easy for the criminals to have easy access into the premises.
While the soldiers alongside operatives of the police anti kidnappers units are said to be in hot pursuit of the attackers, the kidnappers are yet to make contact with families of the kidnapped victims.
The source further stated that while the authorities were aware of the effect of the security points mounted by the soldiers on residents, motorists, and other road users, the security of the FCT and its residents was paramount and called on residents to bear with the situation.
When contacted the commander Guards Brigade confirmed the security checkpoint by the soldiers but said they block the road as it’s being insinuated by the public. He however did not state why they mounted the security checkpoint even though soldiers have been in that particular spot for some time now.
Meanwhile, the Commander Guards Brigade has assured that Abuja is safe and asked residents to go about their lawful businesses without fear of being attacked.
Gen Usman, at a media parley with Defence correspondents at the brigade headquarters in Abuja, said the attack on the university of Abuja does not in any way suggest the collapse of the security architecture in Abuja, saying the Brigade is on top of the situation and doing everything possible to rescue the abducted University Staff.
The Commander, represented by Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Okwoli, appealed to residents and villagers to share credible and timely information with the Army to help in forestalling such security breaches.
“He said Abuja is safe, there is no need to panic, we are deploying technology and other resources to protect lives and properties of residents. Search and rescue operation is on and very soon the abducted University Staff will be rescued”.
Reacting to the security checkpoint mounted by soldiers at the entry and exit points into the FCT, which resulted in heavy traffic gridlock, forcing many workers and motorists to turn back, the Brigade Commander, appealed to residents’ understanding saying the military was acting on credible intelligence. He said that the checkpoints would be dismantled as soon as the issues are contained.
