AMIDST security threats, including bombings, shootings and protests which, at the weekend, claimed many lives in some parts of the North, the Federal Government, on Monday, said it was not overwhelmed by the increasing security challenge.

It accused some Nigerians of always using the various security challenges faced by the nation as instruments to frighten or create unnecessary panic and fear within the society.

In fact, the government described the recent travel advisory given by the United States of America government to its citizens on Nigeria as well as the warning of possible attacks on  some hotels in Abuja as alarm that was not strange and ones that, in no way, suggested that the country was disintegrating.

Both the National Security Adviser, General Owoye Azazi and the Assistant Director, Press, of the State Security Service (SSS), Marilyn Ogar, told journalists in Abuja that for over three months, security services had  been taking proactive measures to protect designated critical facilities in Abuja.

They insisted that the security agencies were not overwhelmed by the continuing outbreak of violence, terrorist attacks and the resultant loss of lives, particularly in the northern part of the country.

Ogar said that the security situation in Damaturu, in Yobe, was under control and disclosed that the security agencies were “on the ground” and “working.”

She described the attacks that killed scores of Nigerians at the weekend as "pockets of crisis" and stated that: “We’ve had a wonderful Sallah, though with some pockets of crisis here and there."

The SSS spokesperson maintained that the "pockets of crisis" were "not issues that we have not been able to contain."

She said: "If there is a problem somewhere, it’s not enough for you to pass judgment. It’s not enough for us to begin to cry that we are overwhelmed. We are not and we will never be.

“We are only asking the media to play their own part by reporting issues that are not going to cause further panic within the society,” she added.

On whether the US shared intelligence on the plot to attack some hotels in Abuja, the SSS spokesperson said, “we all know we have internal security challenges. It’s nothing new. If you ask, where did this information come from, it was from the internet, a twit which subsequently someone sent as an email.

“And I thought that had been addressed, but I don’t see any problem that is beyond the Nigerian security agencies. We have deployed men; we have beefed up security everywhere.

“So whether information was shared or not, I don’t think this is the forum where I can sit down to tell you whether this information was shared or not.

“Nigerians always use various security challenges we have as instruments maybe to frighten or create unnecessary panic and fear within the society. There is nothing that is above the security agencies,” she added.

Ogar, who noted that even America had its own security challenges, observed that America would never say the challenges were beyond its security agencies.

She urged journalists to also focus on state and local governments to find out what exactly they were doing for the people.

She said the Federal Government could not be everywhere at the same time, noting that this was why people were given the responsibility to discharge their duties at that level.

Meanwhile, Azazi has called on members of the public to go about their normal business without fear.

He said security agencies had put in place adequate counter measures to secure life and property across the country.

However, hotel managers in Abuja said patronage was low as Muslims celebrate sallah, although security had been fortified in such hotels, following an alert about possible attacks by Boko Haram sect members.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the hotels were devoid of the festive mood, as people trickled in, while few people visited the recreational units, including bars.

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