ABUJA, Nigeria

Nigerian police have deployed mounted and motorbike forces in the capital Abuja amid threats of attacks by armed groups and terrorists, said an official on Monday.

Frank Mba, a spokesman for Nigerian police, told Anadolu Agency: “The deployment you saw in the nation's capital is primarily a proactive measure intended to increase security, reassure residents, and keep criminals at bay.”

On Monday, special forces riding motorbikes and horses were seen patrolling areas in the central district of the capital and international airport.

The West African country has recently witnessed a series of armed attacks, including the kidnapping of university students in the northwest Kaduna state, fueling fears of attacks in some major cities.