Security was beefed up in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs, on Tuesday, following intelligence report that Boko Haram was making fresh moves to attack the FCT any time from now.

A highly placed security source told the Nigerian Tribune in confidence in Abuja, on Tuesday, that the action became necessary following intelligence reports made available to the security forces.

According to the source, “we are not taking any chance again. We heard similar information ahead of the attack at the Emab Plaza, Wuse 11, Abuja and it happened because we didn’t know the exact shopping complex targetted.”

Nigerian Tribune observed that already, security had further been stepped up in all the shopping complexes and markets, hotels, recreational centres, military, police, Department of State Security Services installations, National Assembly, National Judicial Institute (NJI), venue of the ongoing national conference, Federal Secretariat Complex, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, embassies, mosques and churches.

Also, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) headquarters, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) headquarters and other public places, including the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, were also manned, while armed security personnel patrolled the places.

Major routes leading to the FCT were also manned, as the numbers of the military and police checkpoints on major highways had been increased.

It was also observed that several patrol vehicles belonging to the military, police and DSS were massively deployed in the FCT and satellite towns.

Equally observed was the fact that operators of shopping complexes in Abuja metropolis and its environs had commenced installation of screening machines and metal detectors at their entry points.

Spokesperson of the DSS, Marilyn Ogar, reacting to the bomb blast in Abuja, last week, had said “about two weeks ago, we heard information that they were planning an attack at a busy shopping complex or market and so, we had to go from one shopping complex to another, trying to tell people to be at alert.”

A senior police officer told the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, on Tuesday, that there was no cause for alarm, while he advised law-abiding residents to go about their normal activities.

•Source: Nigerian Tribune.

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