terrorist | Zikoko!

On October 23, 2022, the United States Embassy in Abuja warned American citizens of an “elevated risk” of terror attacks in Nigeria, especially in Abuja.

Just when we were catching some rest for the weekend and looking forward to salary week, the terror alert popped up to remind us that there’s no rest in this country.

What are the possible targets?

Possible targets for terrorists include:
- Government buildings
- Places of worship
- Schools
- Markets
- Shopping malls
- Hotels
- Bars
- Restaurants
- Sports gatherings
- Transport terminals
- Law enforcement facilities
- International organisations
How serious is this alert?

This isn’t the first time a foreign government has issued terror threat alert in Nigeria in 2022. In July, the US and United Kingdom alerted their citizens with separate warnings of an imminent rise in crime in Abuja. The advisories followed the prison escape of over 400 inmates, many of whom were convicted terrorists, from Kuje Prison.

How are security agencies reacting to this?

The Department of State Services (DSS) has called for calm over the U.S. advisory but asked Nigerians to remain vigilant. The agency said it was working with other security agencies to maintain peace and order across Nigeria. Given that the president himself is out of the country, it might be hard to find that reassuring.

What can you do?

The U.S. government wants its citizens to take some precautions in light of the feared attacks and that’s what we should all do:
- Avoid crowds as much as possible. Terror attacks are often designed for maximum impact and crowds are easy targets.
- Avoid all non-essential travel or movement.
- Be aware of your surroundings and report any unusual faces or movements to the nearest authorities. Communal vigilance is essential in periods of high security threats.
- Carry a form of identification at all times.
- Review your personal security plans and keep your cell phone charged in case of emergency.
Ultimately, it’s important not to panic. This sounds like something the government would say but it makes sense — unwarranted panic can create even more trouble than any credible threat of danger.
Whenever the name ‘Shekau’ is mentioned, the picture of the loud-mouthed leader of despicable terrorist group, Boko Haram, only comes to mind.
The most interesting fact, however, is how Shekau has come back to life after the Nigerian Army has reported his death more than 3 times since the onslaught against Boko Haram started in 2011.

To be fair, in 2016, the Nigerian Army has made commendable efforts to bring an end to insurgency in North Eastern Nigeria. In fact, some of the people who fled the war are returning to Borno and a few schools have been re-opened.

Although they reported his death or serious injury in August, he recently released a video claiming he was well and alive.

Na wa o! Is he Lazarus?

How many lives exactly does he have abeg?

Please, men and women of the Nigerian Armed Forces, wyd?

He needs to make up his mind if he’s going to die or not because this his resurrection game has become really boring.
This is Veerender Jubal.

A Canadian man of Indian descent, who is Sikh.
An image of him began circulating on social media Saturday afternoon.

In it, he was wearing a suicide bomb vest and labelled as one of the Paris attackers.
Then, in a series of tweet, Veerender defended himself.

People are editing, and photoshopping my selfies as if I am one of the people causing the issues/problems in Paris.
— Veerender Singh Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) November 14, 2015

So, like, it spread.
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) November 14, 2015

Has spread to the point, where many people have had to tweet about the photos being photoshopped.. Any support/nice messages are welcome.
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) November 14, 2015

You can all check the last retweets. Let us start with basics. Never been to Paris. Am a Sikh dude with a turban. Lives in Canada.
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) November 14, 2015

Gamers are absolute garbage like I have been saying for a full year. People will not stop harassing, and bothering me. I am cute as gosh.
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) November 14, 2015

Learn the difference between me being a Sikh, and a Muslim. Cry in mug, while I use your tears to water my garden. I am valuable, and rad.
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) November 14, 2015
On Sunday, some media outlets in Europe published his photo.

Again associating him with the terrorist attacks.
Later the same day, Veerender tweeted that it had spread to even more countries.

I hope everyone has caught up with what is going on with me. I went viral due to a photoshopped image claiming I am a terrorist.
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) November 15, 2015

This image has been used, and placed on the front page of a major Spain newspaper–putting me as one of the people behind terrorist attacks.
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) November 15, 2015
And even his home land.

Well, just got a phone call from a cousin in India, and they know about it; and saw the whole thing in India Times. We might sue, I guess.
— Veerender Jubbal (@Veeren_Jubbal) November 15, 2015
This tweet sums up the whole situation.

Portraying @Veeren_Jubbal as a terrorist puts his life at risk, ruins his reputation. This is online terrorism. pic.twitter.com/U5bJYCnIsC
— Amy (@AmyStephen) November 15, 2015
This escalated rather quickly and just goes to show how every brown person is stereotyped as a terrorist. It also shows that traditional media does not carry out research anymore.

How are security agencies reacting to this?

What can you do?

The most interesting fact, however, is how Shekau has come back to life after the Nigerian Army has reported his death more than 3 times since the onslaught against Boko Haram started in 2011.

To be fair, in 2016, the Nigerian Army has made commendable efforts to bring an end to insurgency in North Eastern Nigeria. In fact, some of the people who fled the war are returning to Borno and a few schools have been re-opened.

Although they reported his death or serious injury in August, he recently released a video claiming he was well and alive.

Na wa o! Is he Lazarus?

How many lives exactly does he have abeg?

Please, men and women of the Nigerian Armed Forces, wyd?

He needs to make up his mind if he’s going to die or not because this his resurrection game has become really boring.

This is Veerender Jubal.

An image of him began circulating on social media Saturday afternoon.

Then, in a series of tweet, Veerender defended himself.

On Sunday, some media outlets in Europe published his photo.

Later the same day, Veerender tweeted that it had spread to even more countries.

And even his home land.

This tweet sums up the whole situation.

This escalated rather quickly and just goes to show how every brown person is stereotyped as a terrorist. It also shows that traditional media does not carry out research anymore.