Christmas and New Year: US issues security warning

The United States Embassy in Abuja on Friday issued an emergency warning telling citizens to be careful during Christmas and New Year.It specifically warned people to be particularly vigilant around churches, large crowds and areas where foreigners congregate.Last year, the US issued a similar warning before a series of Christmas Eve bombings occurred in Jos killing at least 30 people and wounding several others.Similarly, Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Saturday called on Nigerians to remain security consciousHe said the country needed everyone to contribute their quota towards the nations development.Meanwhile, two persons were wounded in an explosion in Mubi, Adamawa, on Friday.Eye witnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria that some improvised explosive devices planted in some places of worship in the town were also recovered and detonated by security operatives.They said the explosion occurred at the Central Hotel as a result of which a lady and her boyfriend sustained injuries.Mr. Ali Timothy, a customer, said the explosion occurred on the hotel premises, but did not cause any serious damage.When contacted, the Adamawa Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Altine Daniel, said the police command had dispatched officers from the bomb squad unit to ascertain whether it was a bomb explosion.In a related development, the dreaded fundamentalist sect has claimed responsibility for the two-day attack in three northern cities which claimed almost 50 lives.The purported spokesman of the sect, Abul Qaqa, who reportedly spoke to AFP on Saturday said, We are responsible for the attacks in Maiduguri, Damaturu and Potiskum. We carried out the attacks to avenge the killings of our brothers by the security forces in 2009. We will continue to wage war against the Nigerian state until we abolish the secular system and establish an Islamic state.ed a Muslim lawyer he met through the Federal Defender Office- Dearborn-based Elsayed Mostafa.I find there is more understanding when the person is of the same religion, Abdulmutallab said.In order to determine his new request, the US Judge has set a hearing for next week January 6.
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