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The wind of insecurity blowing across the country, especially in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, gathered pace yesterday, sending panic through the whole of Abuja and its environs.

This led to the shutting down of Veritas University, as the terrorists, who had written the Abuja Campus of the Nigerian Law School. also demanded ransom on 500 students, a director-general and 15 lecturers of the institution, ahead of the attack.

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There are claims and counter-claims that persons suspected to be terrorists/bandits, on Tuesday night, carried out sporadic shootings at the Minister’s Hill area and the Dantata Bridge along Airport Road, Abuja.

In neighbouring Nasarawa State, Governor Abdullahi Sule also ordered immediate closure of schools to avert students being attacked.

African Democratic Congress, ADC, Presidential Candidate, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, who unveiled Mr Ahmed Buhari as his running mate, yesterday, echoed opposition senators’call on President Muhammadu Buhari to either resign or be impeached in six weeks, if he failed to address the insecurity in the country, leading to the uproar on the floor of the Senate chamber yesterday.

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This is even as APC Justice and Unity Forum, APC JUF, the ruling party’s support group, demanded immediate sack of the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno, retd.

Reacting to terrorists and bandits’ reported plans to attack Abuja, Zamfara, Kano and Lagos and two other states, the Leader of the Pan-Yoruba Socio-political Organisation, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, lamented that the Federal Government has failed in securing Nigerians, adding that Nigeria needs foreign assistance to tackle its worsening insecurity situation.

Worried senators, yesterday, gave President Muhammadu Buhari six weeks to resolve escalating security breaches or face impeachment proceedings.

The Federal Government, however, assured Nigerians that it is concerned and taking measures to address the issue. It dismissed as propaganda and laughable the recent threat of the terrorists to kidnap President Buhari, a governor and federal lawmakers.

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Veritas University shuts down

The abrupt closure of the Roman Catholic owned Veritas University, located in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, followed security reports indicating that terrorists could attack and abduct students of the school after foiled attempt at the Nigerian Law School, sited some few kilometres apart.

New academic session which was hitherto slated to commence in September, has been put on hold and the 100-level students examination billed to begin this week, was suspended indefinitely. The school said the examination would be “conducted at a date to be announced.”

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Although, Veritas University, in a statement, Wednesday, said it had concluded academic activities hence the closure, it was gathered the development is not unconnected with security threats received by the school and security agencies.

The Public Relations Officer of Veritas University, Evelyn Obekpa, in a terse statement, yesterday, said: “The Management of Veritas University wishes to notify the general public that the university has successfully completed the 2021/2022 academic session.

“However, due to the current security tension and the directives of the Minister of the FCT for the closure of schools in Abuja, examinations for our 100 level students shall be conducted at a date to be announced later.”

Students desert Law school

Students of the Nigerian Law School, Bwari, Abuja have deserted the institution following a threat of an attack by terrorists who are demanding an advanced payment of ransom.

Credible sources confirmed to on Wednesday that the terrorists have sent messages to the management of the institution demanding ransom to cover 500 students, the director-general and 15 lecturers of the institution.

The threat is coming barely one week after gunmen ambushed and killed officers and soldiers of the Presidential Brigade of Guards along the Kubwa-Bwari road.

We gathered that after the threat message, the management alongside the operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, called a meeting with the students and asked them to be security conscious.

According to a source, “information came about two weeks ago that Boko Haram terrorists have demanded that ransom should be paid in advance for 500 students, the D-G and 15 lecturers. After the message many students were frightened.

“The management held an emergency meeting during the Sallah holiday with three persons from the DSS, who addressed the students. They gave the students security tips and told them that security is a general business.

“They also told the students how vulnerable Bwari is as it has boundaries with Niger and Kaduna states which are the theatre of the crisis.

“They told the students to be security conscious and report to the management any unusual or suspicious movement and wear their Identity Cards.”

The source further said: “As a result of the threat, on July 25, many students left the campus because of fear. Some left on the 26th and even advised their colleagues to leave. “Some students that have relatives within Abuja have gone to stay with them, while those that don’t have anywhere to go are still in the school.

“The students are even pleading with the management to relocate them to the Port Harcourt campus but the management has not said anything about it.”

It was gathered that while some of the students have deserted the campus, some others are still receiving lectures as exams are expected to start about 25th August.

Terrorist threat against Buhari laughable — FG

Meanwhile, the Federal Government, yesterday, described the recent threat issued by the Abuja-Kaduna train terrorists to go after President Buhari and Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State as laughable propaganda.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting, presided over by President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Recall that in the latest viral video released by the abductors of the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers, they had boasted that they would come after President Buhari and Governor el-Rufai.

Reacting to the claims and senators’ six-week ultimatum to Buhari during the question and answer session of the briefing, Mohammed said: “Most of the questions you asked have to do with the security situation. I want to assure you that the President is aware of all these and as a matter of fact, I think tomorrow, there’s going to be another Security Council meeting.

“So, it’s not a matter the President is taking lightly and like I’ll always say, some of the measures we’re going to take are not measures that you can discuss openly here, but we’re as concerned as you are, we’re not going to abandon our responsibility.

“As to those who have issued threats to Mr. President, I think it’s more of propaganda than anything. It’s laughable.

“Resolution passed by senators, as rightly said, it was passed when we were deliberating, but we thank them for their patriotism and concern. We are working round the clock, 24 hours, to ensure that the situation is brought under control.

“I want to reassure you that the government is up to the task of ensuring security. Security challenges will come anywhere in the world, the important thing is the fact that you do not lose focus and you continue to work assiduously to overcome it. I want to assure you we are going to overcome.”

Resign if you can’t secure Nigerians, Kachikwu tells Buhari

However, as insecurity envelops Nigeria, ADC Presidential Candidate, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, has asked President Buhari to stand down if he can no longer guaranty the safety of Nigerians.

Similarly, Kachikwu told Buhari that it is unacceptable for Nigerians to be living in fear, poverty and hopelessness under his leadership while he appears to be helpless in dealing with rising insecurity in the land.

Kachikwu, who spoke while unveiling his running mate, Ahmed Buhari, in Abuja, yesterday, accused the Buhari administration of running out of ideas and the political will to tackle the menace of insecurity in Nigeria, which has emboldened terrorists and bandits to attack Nigerians without any concomitant response from the military.

The ADC candidate also accused the All Progressives Congress, APC administration of destroying the Nigerian economy, which it inherited from former President Goodluck Jonathan at time when the Dollar was exchanged for N190 as against today’s exchange rate of over N700.

Kachikwu said: “Buhari has squandered the goodwill of Nigerians and should resign from office if he can no longer guaranty the safety and wellbeing of Nigerians, who elected him with high hopes and aspirations in 2015 and re-elected him in 2019.

“But Buhari has allowed terrorists and bandits to destroy the country and turn innocent Nigerians into internally displaced persons across the country, including those in his state of Katsina. He inherited billions of Naira for security but cannot do anything to secure the people of Nigeria.

Speaking at the brief ceremony, Ahmed Buhari said: “We will do our best to stamp out terrorism and banditry from Nigerian from day one of our administration and we will do all that is needed to give hope and confidence to all Nigerians by providing them with jobs and opportunities to actualize their dreams.

(Vanguard)