Terror alert: Inform police first, IGP tells US

The Inspector General of Police, Alkali Usman, has said that foreign countries should stop informing the public on possible terror attacks in Nigeria, instead they should inform the police direct.

Usman faulted the United States and United Kingdom over the dissemination of such information to the general public, on Saturday while inaugurating a police station and barracks in Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State.

Over the past week, the United States had issued two advisories to citizens and embassy staff in Abuja, urging them to evacuate the capital over possible terror attacks and a number of other countries have done same.

This has heightened panic in the country’s capital as a number of businesses, including malls have shut down over the alert.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), the Armed Forces, The Nigerian Police as well as the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, have all assured Nigerians of their safety, saying their was no need for alarm and panic.

Newsmen had earlier reported that Turkish drones and helicopters are to arrive in Nigeria soon as part of the efforts to strengthen the security architecture, as confirmed by the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Nigeria, Hidayet Bayraktar.

The IGP said “How can you enter the country and say there is security alert, you didn’t inform the police, and you go around telling your people; don’t go to Abuja, return from Abuja.

“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.”

Reassuring Nigerians of their safety, the IGP said, “We are working in synergy with other security agencies to ensure the safety of residents.”