On Sunday, October 23, 2022; the United States and Britain issued a warning over a potential terrorist assault in Abuja, the federal capital of Nigeria, with particular emphasis on targeting government structures, houses of worship, and educational institutions.
The US Embassy in Nigeria stated that “there is a heightened risk of terrorist strikes in Nigeria, notably Abuja,” and noted that other sites at risk included shopping centres, jails, and international organisations.
The US Embassy informed Nigerian citizens in a notice that “limited services will be provided until further notice.”
The government of the United Kingdom issued a warning to its residents in Nigeria, stating that there was “greater threat of terrorist attack in Abuja.”
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“Attacks could be indiscriminate and could affect western interests, as well as places visited by tourists,” it said.
Nigeria is battling an insurgency that is primarily concentrated in the northeast, but in July, the Islamic State claimed credit for a raid on an Abuja jail that resulted in the release of about 440 prisoners, sparking worries that terrorists were leaving their strongholds.
When Nigerians go to the polls in February to elect a new president to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, insecurity, which has spread throughout the country, will be a key topic.
The foreign affairs ministry of Nigeria did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
