Nigeria secret police has called on the general public to be aware of potential threats to life currently ongoing nationwide in the country and therefore urged the residents to avoid crowded places as a way of controllable security strategy for Christians and Muslims during the period of  Lent and Ramadan.

Department of State Services Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Peter Afunanya issued and made available the new security alert on Friday morning, few hours after 280 school children were kidnapped in Kaduna State and almost two days after more than 200 women were taken hostage in Borno State by terrorists.

The secret police statement titled: “DSS WISHES CHRISTIANS AND THE MUSLIM UMMAH PEACEFUL LENT AND RAMADAN SEASONS” reads in quotes thus:

“The Department of State Services (DSS) wishes to identify with the Christian and Muslim faithful at their Lent and coming Ramadan seasons respectively. Accordingly, the Management extends its heartfelt felicitations for peace, unity and harmony to adherents of these faiths.

The DSS recognises the significance of these sacred rites and enjoins worshippers to promote understanding, compassion and respect for one another during and after the exercises.

It appeals to stakeholders to refrain from economic exploitation, sabotage or profiteering during these important obligations. This is more so that illegal practices such as price gouging or unethical marketing tactics are ungodly; violate fairness and can undermine the true essence of the holy events. As believers, it is incumbent upon us to uphold good standards and ensure that everyone can observe the religious duties with ease and dignity.

Furthermore, the Service encourages clerics and religious leaders to uphold empathy as well as prioritise cooperation and conflict prevention beyond the periods under reference.

Similarly, the media is encouraged to utilise their platforms to foster informed and accurate engagements that (can) enhance the achievement of national security objectives and interests.

Likewise, residents are advised to remain vigilant against public dangers especially Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

Also, the general public is urged to stay informed about potential threats; avoid crowded or suspicious areas and report to relevant security agencies any strange objects, activities and movements of hostile elements.

In the same vein, the Service calls for tolerance, bonds of brotherhood, dialogue and peaceful coexistence among the populace.

Overall, the Service recommits to provision of strategic intelligence to other sister agencies in order to achieve a safe and secure country. As we undertake these spiritual journeys in the Lenten and Ramadan periods, let us remember to love and share the values that unite us. Let us reaffirm our commitment to the values of mercy, tolerance, forgiveness, being our brother’s keepers among others and by these, advance more inclusive and equitable society for us all”.

It would be recalled that Gunmen in Nigeria kidnapped more than 270 school pupils in the northern town of Kuriga on Thursday, a teacher, local councillor and parents of the missing children said, a kidnapping considered to be the biggest mass abduction from a school since 2021.

It was gathered that the abduction  happened shortly after morning assembly at the Local Government Education Authority School in the town of Kuriga, Kaduna State.

The incident occurred barely 24 hours after insurgents abducted 200 internally displaced women in Borno State.

The women were kidnapped in Ngala, the headquarters of Gambarou Ngala in Borno State while fetching firewood in the bush.

“The number of the kidnapped from the secondary section based on the statistics we took together with the parents is 187 while that of the primary section is 40 for now,” said Sani Abdullahi, a home economics teacher, according to news report from Reuters.

As part of activities commemorating the 2024 International Women’s day, wife of Nigeria President, Remi Tinubu described kidnappers as cowards, saying, they deserved death penalty.

The Nigeria first lady also noted that anyone convicted of abduction deserves capital punishment.

She said this while reacting to the news of 200 women who were kidnapped in Borno State, and over 280 pupils and teachers kidnapped in Kaduna State.

Remi Tinubu said, “Whoever is kidnapping young people is sick, cruel, and a coward.

“Enough is enough and I call on the state governors that once we take hold of them, they deserve capital punishment.

“Why don’t they take people their size? Why are they torturing our children? What they are trying to do is kill our future.

“We all know parents, when we are old we rely on our children.

“Why would you go and take them from schools? Right now, I think enough is enough. As a former lawmaker, I believe that any one of them captured deserves capital punishment”.

Over 280 pupils and teachers of Government Secondary School and LEA primary school at Kuriga, Kaduna State were abducted by bandits on Thursday.

The gunmen invaded the area shooting sporadically before taking away their victims.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has condemned the “heinous incidents of abduction involving very vulnerable victims, internally displaced persons in Borno State, and students in Kaduna State”,  according to the Presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale.

“The President directs security and intelligence agencies to immediately rescue the victims and ensure that justice is served against the perpetrators of these abominable acts.

“I have received a briefing from security chiefs on the two incidents, and I am confident that the victims will be rescued. Nothing else is acceptable to me and the waiting family members of these abducted citizens. Justice will be decisively administered,” President Tinubu says.

The President sympathizes with the families of the victims, assuring them that they will soon be reunited with their loved ones”, the statement issued by Ajuri Ngelale reads in quote.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, also condemned the mass abductions by suspected terrorists and bandits in Borno and Kaduna States within two days.

The Speaker charged the military and other security agencies to go after the abductors and rescue the victims, according to statement issued by his spokesperson, Musa Abdullahi Krishi.

The statement indicated that; “Suspected Boko Haram members had on Wednesday stormed an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Gamboru Ngala town in Borno State and abducted scores of the IDPs, most of whom are women.

Again on Thursday morning, bandits invaded the LEA Primary School, Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and kidnapped scores of pupils.

The Speaker decried that the attacks were coming at a time when the troubled North-East and North-West were about getting some respite from bandits and terrorists occupation.

Speaker Abbas, while praying for the safe return of the abductees, urged the security agencies to deploy all resources for their rescue.

The Speaker also stated that the 10th House under his leadership would do everything possible legislatively to increase the capacity of the military and paramilitary agencies towards security of life and property across Nigeria”.