FG cautions against dangerous rumours

Abuja – The Federal Government on Friday advised Nigerians to stop peddling dangerous rumours that could create fear and anxiety in the country.

The Coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr Mike Omeri, on Friday gave the advice in Abuja while updating newsmen on the security situation in the country.

Omeri cautioned the public against spreading false alarm that could cause panic among the citizenry.

He appealed to the public to work closely with security agencies and to make effective use of the security alert phone numbers already made available to them.

Omeri said that the centre was aware of the false alarm and rumours in form of text messages being circulated in the social media with a view to creating panic and anxiety among the populace.

He said that rumours were making the rounds that some schools were being targeted for attack.

“We urge parents and school authorities to remain calm, cautious and more vigilant.

“ We wish to state that security agencies are working round the clock and have taken measures to ensure that schools are safe and academic activities go on unhindered,” he said.

Omeri also said that the activities of insurgents were now targeted at some major cities in the country and this development was a further wake up call on everybody to be more vigilant and cautious with activities around Nigerians.

He said the activities of insurgents had made it imperative for all citizens to resolve more than ever before to stand united as a people to end insurgency in the country.

“The government notes with concern the attempt by some persons working assiduously to demoralise our security agencies, particularly military personnel involved in the fight against insurgency in the North-East.

“While we do not want to go into details of operations currently taking place, it is advisable that the practice where some persons throw up figures of causalities either of the military or insurgents should be discouraged.

“The truth remains that the military is winning the war and the nation will surely triumph in this fight,” he said.

Omeri, however, commended security agencies for their prompt action which led to the arrest of one of the attackers and the killing of another in EMAB Plaza incident.

The coordinator described Wednesday’s attack at the shopping mall at Wuse 11, Abuja, as callous and inhumane.

He said the prompt action stopped the use of the terrorist gadgets to detonate the second and possibly the third deadly device.