America is sending personnel to help Nigeria prepare against attacks on vital installations by Al-Qaeda, the terror network hunting the United States and everyone associated with that country.

The team is drawn from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and military counter-terrorist squads, based on a request from Abuja.

Washington confirmed it provided intelligence for the decision of Aso Rock to place all security services on high alert.

The announcement, made by Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, followed what American officials described as "a significant increase in chatter about Nigeria from usually reliable sources."

Analysts said such increased communication from known terror groups usually precede a significant attack.

"We are prepared to provide every assistance and assets required by Nigeria not only to counter the threat but to possibly arrest those behind it," a Pentagon source said.

The State Department has warned Americans to be on alert, as "the lack of law and order in Nigeria poses considerable risks to travellers. American citizens should defer all but essential travel to Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers States because of the very high risk of kidnapping, robbery, and other armed attacks in these areas.

"American citizens who are resident in the Delta are strongly advised to review their personal security."

Al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden, called on his followers last year to attack public facilities in several countries, including Nigeria, and voiced interest in overthrowing the Nigerian Government.

The U.S. has also expressed fears about the "growing radical Islamic adherents" in Northern Nigeria, and urged the government to diffuse the tension by providing jobs to youths.

Al-Qaeda is said to have threatened to commence bombing important buildings in Nigeria.

Okiro raised the alarm last Friday at the monthly senior officers' conference at the Obudu Ranch Resort in Cross River State.

He has directed Assistant Inspector General of Police (Surveillance), Israel Ajao, to intensify surveillance with the Commissioners of Police (CP) in charge of Air Wing, Border Patrol, and all state command CPs.

He said Al-Qaeda plans to send in time bomb, and warned all state CPs to ensure the item does not pass through their domain.

The police have established an anti-terrorist unit at Force Headquarters in Abuja.

Expressing his displeasure over the resurgence of criminals using Armed Forces uniforms, Okiro urged his officers to be on alert, adding that arrested suspects would be interrogated as to the source of the uniforms, while marketers of such uniforms would be raided.

Okiro also directed all state CPs to bring to the notice of the public the illegality of the use of police uniforms by unauthorised persons.

The anxiety was heightened on Sunday when militants attacked Okiki police post in Ogbia Council in Bayelsa State.

They killed two officers in the renewed hostilities that came 24 hours after the start of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign in the Governorship ballot rerun.

But the police authorities said the militants would not dissuade them from maintaining peace and security.

No group has claimed responsibility for the violence.

Eye witness accounts said the militants stormed the community by boats about 1.40 a.m., and used dynamite to blow up the police post, after firing gun shots.

However, Bayelsa State Chairman of the Niger Delta Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, James Jephthah, who spoke through his Media Relations Officer, Alphine Ogoh, ruled out the possibility that the attack was perpetrated by militants in the state.

"No militant group in Bayelsa State would want to carry out such attacks against any government security agency, considering the existing working relationship they have with the state government," Jephthah stressed.

He noted that criminals could easily take advantage of the prevailing peace to commit crime that could be ascribed to militancy; since sea pirates, armed robbers, and oil pipeline vandals can attack the security agencies.