![Department Spokesperson Ned Price holds the Daily Press Briefing at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on January 31, 2022. [State Department Photo by Freddie Everett/ Public Domain]](https://media.todaynewsafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/08080927/51855365750_33e28cb623_o-scaled.jpg "Department Spokesperson Ned Price holds the Daily Press Briefing at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on January 31, 2022. [State Department Photo by Freddie Everett/ Public Domain]")
Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa covering President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. government, UN, IMF, World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington and New York.
The United States government announced on Monday that there is an elevated risk of terror attacks in Nigeria, specifically in Abuja, and that the U.S. Embassy will offer reduced services until further notice.
“Targets may include, but are not limited to, government buildings, places of worship, schools, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, athletic gatherings, transport terminals, law enforcement facilities, and international organizations,” the U.S. embassy in Abuja said in a security alert.
The State Department on Wednesday also commented on the possible terror attack in Nigeria during a press briefing in Washington D.C.
“There’s not much that I can say beyond what the embassy has released publicly,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said when asked to provide further assessment of the risk. “And yesterday, Mission Nigeria distributed and posted online a security alert stating that there is, quote, “an elevated risk of terror attacks in Nigeria, specifically in Abuja.”
“The embassy there will offer reduced services until further notice. We take our responsibility when it comes to providing timely, accurate information to the American citizen community there and everywhere around the world very seriously. We take seriously our commitment to have no double standard when there is information available to us. In this case, we provided timely notification of the security alert and the fact that the embassy will be offering reduced services for the time being,” Price said.
The U.S. Embassy in Abuja urged Americans to avoid all non-essential travel or movement, stay alert and avoid crowds. They should also carry proper identification and review their personal security plans and keep their cell phones charged in case of an emergency.