The spokesperson of the Guards Brigade in Nigeria’s federal capital, Captain Godfrey Anebi Abakpa, has confirmed an attack by suspected members of the Islamic terrorist group, Boko Haram, on soldiers from 7 Guards Battalion.
Driving the news
Reports say that the terrorist group ambushed the security troops while the latter were patrolling the Bwari-Kubwa Road. Although the troops repelled the attack, three soldiers of 7 Guard Battalion were injured and are now receiving treatment at a military hospital in Abuja. The attack occurred in the Bwari Area, the vicinity of the Nigerian Law School, and the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The signal message on the attack partly reads: “Troops on routine patrol on Kubwa-Bwari were ambushed by suspected terrorists.
“Details on the extent of their injuries are still under confirmation. The ambush attack happening within the general area of Bwari shows that the terrorists are actually within the location and possibly preparing to carry out their plans to attack the Law School in Bwari as earlier reported.”
Why it matters
Guards Brigade in Nigeria have a primary duty of protecting the country’s president and his family, the Vice President, Very Important Personalities (VIP), the Federal Capital Territory and its surrounding states.
In a viral video released recently, the abductors of the Abuja-Kaduna train victims threatened to kidnap President Muhammadu Buhari and Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai. The first direct encounter between the terrorist group and the Brigade of Guards in Abuja shows that the terrorists are undoubtedly in the area and are likely prepping to carry out their threats.
Meanwhile
The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has ordered the closure and evacuation of students of all unity schools in Abuja for security reasons. The minister made the decision after the recent security breaches in Sheda and Lambata villages, suburbs of Kwali Area Council, which also threatened the FGC, Kwali.