NSA Azazi Dismisses US Terror Warning Over Abuja Luxury Hotels

SAN FRANCISCO, November 07, (THEWILL) – Nigeria has dismissed a weekend terror advisory issued United States citizens in Nigeria by the US Embassy, warning of possible terror attacks on three major hotels in Abuja; Nicon Luxury, Transcorp Hilton and the Sheraton Hotels, all the in the heart of Nigeria’s capital Abuja.

The government says the statement is generating avoidable tension and causing unhealthy public anxiety.

National Security Adviser, Owoeye Andrew Azazi said the information contained in the US statement is old information adding that the hotels have often be speculated as possible targets for members of the sect, which says that it wants Islamic law installed in all states in Northern Nigeria.

"The ... government wants to advise members of the public that it (will) continue to ensure security of lives and property under its jurisdiction.

"The (U.S. statement) is eliciting unhealthy public anxiety and generating avoidable tension, "National Security Adviser, General Owoeye Andrew Azazi was quoted to have said in a Reuters news report.

Nigeria’s security agencies have come under severe criticisms following the slaughter of about 65 persons by members of the radical Islamic Sect Boko Haram in coordinated attacks in Damaturu, Yobe State during the Sallah holiday.

Nigeria’s police formations which have been the main target of the sect in most of the attacks in remote areas of the north lack the training or sophistication to defend itself against the rampaging jihadists.

The quality of recruitments into the police force has over the years been a major source of concern to many analysts as many intakes are often those with very low educational qualification mostly primary or secondary school dropouts.

The main opposition party the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has called for the sack of security chiefs following their inability to stop the series of attacks.