Security alert: Those arrested will be prosecuted – IGP

The IGP, who declined to give accurate number of those arrested in connection with the threats, said the security stakeholders picked holes in the advisories because it caused apprehension among the citizens.

He said: “Nobody has dismissed that alarm. Government never dismissed it; but we only said it was blown out of proportion or made in such a way that our people became apprehensive to the situation or to the way it was done.

“The embassies have their own responsibilities to their citizens and they can make their advice and the government has not dismissed what has happened because they have also informed us of what they foresee as threats.

“And we on our part have also looked at what they put as threat as something that has been with us and efforts are being made daily to see they those threats are mitigated or prevented from happening and that is what has been happening in Abuja and all over the country.

“Sometimes, these threats or things happen but nobody has dismissed it as mere alarm and a lot of efforts have been made, like you said to douse tension. Yes, actually arrests have been made for those, we believe are planning to commit crime in whatever form and we have done that arrest and as at when due, those arrested will be charged to court by any of the services which have them.”

Baba said the security situation in Nigeria had been reasonably stable in spite of the activities of unpatriotic elements and non-state actors who engaged in criminal activities across the country.

He said the Nigeria Police Force was actively collating intelligence and effectively subduing elements responsible for security threats within the country.