Experts in security matters say government should exercise caution in its outright dismissal of any security warning from any quarter, noting that relevant measures in tackling insecurity in the country should be the main focus.
They gave the advise following the Federal Government’s position on the terror alerts issued by both the United States mission in Nigeria and the United Kingdom last week.
Canada is the latest to issue a statement on the same matter.
Over the years, Kidnapping, banditry, robbery and murder have lingered and are now seriously threatening to bring the nation to its knees as the success rate of terrorist attacks and killings in the country are becoming alarming.
Today, Nigerians live in fear and sleep with their eyes open for fear of being brutally attacked.
According to a Nigerian leading geopolitical research firm, SBM Intelligence, in Quarter 2 in 2021, April to June 2021, at least over 4,000 Nigerians were reportedly killed in three months due to violent incidents, including attacks by Boko Haram Islamist terrorists, militia herdsmen, bandits, armed robbers, and others.
The report disclosed that civilians comprised the highest number of Nigerians killed at 1,772, followed by bandits (416) and Boko Haram terrorists (334), adding that 296 were security personnel including Customs, DSS, NSCDC, police, and military personnel.
In Benue State, 473 deaths were recorded, followed by Zamfara (461) and Borno (444).
Jigawa, Ekiti, and Abia led the lowest number of deaths with 34, 88 and 108 respectively.
In 2022, 4,545 people were killed by gunmen while 4,611 others were kidnapped including the Owo massacre where scores of worshippers were killed on June 5.
According to amnesty international, over 100 Nigerians have been killed and hundreds kidnapped since June this year.
For these reasons, the United States Mission in Nigeria, the British High Commission and other foreign missions issued a terror alert statement to the people.
However, reacting, the Federal Government dismissed the security advisories, describing them as false and assured Nigerians to go about their lawful businesses as the country is safe and secure.
A Former Assistant Director DSS, Denis Omokri said although the alarms are for their nationals, federal government should take the message seriously.
A Security risk management and intelligence specialist, Kabir Adamu explained that countries all over the world have the obligation to advise their citizens to security conscious where they are.
A Retired Security Director State Security Service, Mike Ejiofor, while tasking government to take security matters seriously, he called on the citizens too to see it as their business.
Others suggested measures to include intense intelligence gathering, acquisition, and deployment of additional platforms, training, and re-training of personnel, cooperation with international law enforcement agencies, among others, to maintain a secure environment.