President Muhammadu Buhari stayed away from the M.K.O. Abiola National Stadium on Tuesday after he was warned of an imminent bomb attack, according to a memo from the State Security Service.
The memo on March 28 first shared on Twitter by journalist David Hundeyin warned of an imminent threat blamed on suspected elements of separatist IPOB, a group the Buhari regime has blamed for all degrees of security crisis in recent months.
“Intelligence available to the Service indicate [sic] imminent attack on M.K.O Abiola National Stadium, Abuja by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) using prime improvised l explosive devices on 29th March, 2022. The attack was hatched to target the return world cup qualifiers match between Nigeria and Ghana, aimed at causing maximum casualty and embarrassment to the Government, thereby drawing local and international attention to the secessionist agenda of the dissident group.
“In view of the foregoing coupled with the planned attendance of President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) and other important dignitaries to honour the national team, there is the need for adequate deployment of counter security measures before and during the slated match with a view to preventing, detecting and neutralizing the threats,” the memo said.
Mr Hundeyin, who runs Africa Weekly, told Peoples Gazette the memo emanated from a source knowledgeable about the development.
The president was initially billed to be amongst the audience for the live World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Ghana in the Nigerian capital.
A spokesman for the SSS did not immediately return a request for comments.
It came as armed bandits are terrorising vast swathes of the country’s northwestern territories.
On Monday night, bandits bombed a train station traveling between Abuja to the central Kaduna city, leaving many killed, wounded and abducted. No groups have claimed responsibility and no suspects have been arrested over the incident.
