THE United States Embassy in Nigeria has withdrawn an alert it issued on Sunday warning US citizens from visiting three prominent hotels in Abuja.The embassy, in a statement on Wednesday, said the measures put in place by the concerned authorities and the hotels had reduced the risk involved.The embassy said, The US Embassy continues to monitor closely the ongoing threat posed by an extremist group and their stated intention to carry out attacks against the Nigerian Government and western interests in Nigeria.The Embassy notes that increased security checks at major hotels, government facilities, and along major roadways over the recent Sallah holiday have improved the security environment to the general public. As a result, and with the Sallah holiday over, the Embassy is updating its warning to US citizens. US Government personnel are no longer instructed to avoid the NICON Luxury, the Sheraton Hotel, and the Transcorp Hilton Hotel. However, the Embassy reminds all US citizens to maintain a high level of vigilance and personal awareness, particularly in and around Abuja, FCT, near Nigerian government facilities, diplomatic missions, large gathering places, hotels, markets and malls, and places of worship.The statememt added, We advise all US citizens to review their personal security plans, remain aware of their surroundings, including local events, monitor local news stations for updates, and report specific incidences of targeted violence to the US Embassy in Abuja or the US Consulate General in Lagos at the numbers below. US citizens should maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to enhance their personal security.Meanwhile, suspected fundamentalists have again attacked a police station and government office in Mainok in Damaturu, destroying both buildings, but authorities denied a residents claim of police casualties.Suspected members of Boko Haram on Wednesday night stormed the village of Mainok, some 75 kilometres from Damaturu, which was hit by coordinated attacks last Friday that left about 150 persons dead.Its true there were attacks on a police outpost in Mainok village, said Simeon Midenda, the Borno State police commissioner.It was burnt down by the attackers suspected to be members of Boko Haram, but there were no casualties because that particular outpost was shut down long ago and the policemen there were redeployed to Maiduguri.A resident however told AFP that about 20 gunmen attacked the police station, throwing explosives inside, before moving on to an office of the Federal Road Safety Commission, which was also destroyed along with vehicles parked there.They killed four policemen and freed suspects from cells and carted away guns and ammunition from the police station, the resident said.An FRSC official for Borno State confirmed that the office was hit.Our office in Mainok was attacked by gunmen and burnt down, said James Christopher. None of my men there were affected but one of our operation vehicles was also burnt in the attack.
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