There is now panic among residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, following speculations of an imminent suicide bomb attack on the city.

Between Thursday and Friday, some residents along the Zone 4 Area of Wuse and customers around Ceddi Plaza were panic-stricken after a rumoured bomb scare.

However, the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters yesterday in Abuja confirmed the situation, saying “credible intelligence reports” at its disposal indicate that terrorists have perfected plot to carry out attacks on the Abuja transport sector.

Consequently, the Force has issued a “Security Threat Alert”, warning residents to be vigilant and be more suspicious of strange faces.

“The attacks which are intended to cause panic amongst Abuja residents and visitors alike are planned to be perpetrated through suicide bombings, or through the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) concealed in luggage, bags, cans, and other receptacles”, said Frank Mba, an Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of the Force Public Relations unit.

The Police High Command has, therefore, ordered the FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu in particular, and other CPs in the adjoining states of Nasarawa, Kogi, Kaduna and Niger to beef up security at major parks around Abuja and its environs.

The police also enjoined the general public, particularly those within and outside the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja “to be roundly vigilant and report any suspicious persons, objects, movements or activities to the Security Forces without delay.”

Mba, however, urged residents to not panic, assuring that the security Forces are working round the clock to neutralise and effectively deal with the threat.

“As part of additional efforts at forestalling the attacks and strengthening security around the transport sector, the Police High Command has called on the management of Motor-parks to ensure that travellers and workers’ safety comes first.

“It charges them to constantly conduct regular and routine scanning of their environments while insisting on carrying out a thorough search on passengers and their bags as well as vehicles entering and leaving their parks. It also advises that such searches must have the active participation of the passengers involved and warns that any item or luggage unaccompanied by any passenger must be rejected outright and should not be allowed into the vehicle. Passengers are also enjoined to be on the lookout for any passenger, who might come in with luggage but will attempt to disembark without such luggage”, Mba stated.

He said while operators of motor parks are strongly advised to discourage overnight parking of vehicles at motor parks, particularly by unknown persons, the Police High Command further advice motor park workers to reduce congestion at the parks by disallowing the indiscriminate parking of private cars, tricycles and motorcycles at the precincts of motor parks.

“In addition the Police High Command advises that the general public in other places outside the motor parks should also monitor their environments as the terrorists may likely shift attention having known that their plots have been uncovered.

“Meanwhile, the Police can be reached on the following hot lines: FCT Police Control Room – 07057337653, Force Intelligence Bureau Operations Room – 08139379245, 08075650624 and National Emergency Line -112”, Mba announced