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The Nigeria Police Force has told foreign countries having intelligence on the activities of the Boko Haram sect to pass such information to security agencies rather than releasing it publicly.
Mr Olusola Amore, the Police Public Relations Officer, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.
Amore, who was reacting to the warning by the U.S. Embassy in Abuja to U.S. citizens to steer clear of popular hotels in Abuja, added that doing otherwise could cause fear among the people.
The police spokesman said it was better to pass such intelligence to security agencies that could use it to prevent crime.
NAN recalls that the U.S. Embassy on Wednesday said that it had credible received information that Boko Haram was planning to attack hotels in Abuja.
Amore stressed that the alert was capable of causing panic and fear among Nigerian citizens as well as foreign nationals residing in the country.
``If they have any intelligence report or they have any information about criminals, be it armed robbery, be it Boko Haram, we expect them to pass such information to security agencies.
``The agencies may make use of them instead of using such to cause panic or fear among the citizens and visitors alike.
``There are some countries whose security situation is worse than what we have in Nigeria and the U.S. has never put travelling ban or restraint on their citizens.”
The spokesman decried a situation where some foreign countries try to blackmail Nigeria or paint it in a bad light.
Amore, however, assured that security agencies were always at alert and ready to take on any criminal group or gang anywhere, and anytime in the country.
He also said that the police and hotels in the FCT were collaborating in the provision of security in and around the hotels.
``To the best of my knowledge, the police and other security agencies are always at alert. We don’t even wait for any incident.
``The police and all the hotels, whether small or big, are always collaborating to ensure that there is no security breach in Abuja.
``As I talk with you, policemen are fully on the ground. Intelligence policemen are going round and there is no reason to entertain any fear,’’ he said.
