Nigeria’s information minister Lai Mohammed says the recent security advisory issued by the United States Embassy in Nigeria set the nation and its residents into a “panic mood.”
“I want to say very categorically and without mincing words that, whatever is the intention of this security alert or this travel advisory, what it has done is that, it has terrorised our people and it has set the nation in a panic mood,” Mr Mohammed said in Kaduna on Friday during the presentation of the state’s quarterly security report.
In October, the U.S. and UK embassies had in a security advisory raised the alarm of possible terror attack in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, while evacuating its staff.
The security advisories listed government buildings, worship centers, markets among potential terrorists target, forcing Jabi Lake Mall to close operation in fear.
However, President Buhari’s regime has dismissed the security advisories as “click bait.” Minister of Defence Bashir Magashi said all Nigeria needs from the U.S. is “prayer” and not “confusing” terror alert.
“When the US issued the security alert, what did they expect us to do? To tell Nigerians to run away? No!,” Mr Mohammed asked rhetorically.