By John Ikani
An army captain and two soldiers were reportedly killed on Monday when troops of the 7 Guards Brigade which provides security for the Presidential Villa and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja responded to a distress call from the Nigerian Law School at the Bwari area of the FCT.
Local medium Daily Trust reports that the school management alerted that terrorists had dropped a letter indicating an imminent attack on the institution.
It quoted its sources at the military high command as saying: “Following the threat letter from the terrorists, the leadership of the Nigerian Law School drew the attention of the military authorities at the 7 Guards Brigade.
“The late army captain (names withheld) and the soldiers were dispatched to the school for preliminary investigation.
“They had a discussion with authorities at the school and agreed on what to do to safeguard students, teachers and school facilities. Sadly on their way back, the terrorists ambushed them and that was how the captain and two soldiers were killed,” he said.
The source said other persons in the party escaped the attackers by whiskers.
The medium’s correspondent was told that all stakeholders were asked to keep the threat on the law school, including the killing of the soldiers, secret.
“They said even the staff in the school should not be allowed to know what is happening because it will embarrass the government.”
Another source said following the threat, there was a plan to dispatch a joint task force to beef up security around the law school and Bwari at large.
He said besides the law school, other facilities in Bwari, especially those belonging to the government are now under threat and the people were now living in fear.
“This is the height of onslaught on the Federal Capital Territory, the seat of power,” he said.
“But the truth is that the threats have been there for long, nobody in the security circle in Nigeria will tell you that he or she is not aware of the threat on Abuja and the FCT at large.
“The terrorists have established cells in many communities around the FCT. That is why abductions have become a daily occurrence around Kuje, Gwagalada and the remaining area councils in the last one year or thereabouts.
“The target of the terrorists is to embarrass the government. They are in control of many communities in all the contiguous states to the FCT and they are finally here,” he said.
Nigerian Army confirms attack
A spokesperson for the Guards Brigade, Captain Godfrey Anebi Abakpa, who confirmed the incident to newsmen on Tuesday did not mention the death of three soldiers.
He however said the attack was successfully repelled by the troops, adding that a few of the men who were wounded in action have been taken to a hospital where they were receiving treatment.
While noting that the troops were combing the general area to get rid of the criminals who have been threatening the general area, the spokesman advised residents of Abuja to go about their lawful businesses and keep cooperating with the military by providing timely information to enable them curb the activities of the criminals.
“At the moment our troops are still combing the general area to get rid of the criminals who have been threatening the general area.
“It is advised that residents go about their lawful businesses and keep cooperating with us by giving us timely information to enable us win the fight against the criminals,” Captain Abakpa added.
What you should know
In recent times, terrorists have been attacking villages in the nation’s capital with the latest being the kidnap of a monarch in Kucihbuyi, a community in Bwari Area Council.
A few days ago, terrorists attacked Kuje prison and set hundreds of inmates free.
Villages had been sacked by bandits in Abaji, Kuje Kwali and Gwagwalada Area Councils forcing many farmers to abandon their farmlands.
In a clip which went viral on Sunday, the terrorists threatened to abduct President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, as well as other top government officials.
The terrorists have also threatened to launch massive attacks on the nation’s capital.
On Monday, the Federal Government ordered the closure of one of its colleges, the Federal Government College located in Kwali Area Council of the FCT over security concerns after gunmen reportedly attacked two adjoining villages to the school.
