Friday’s deadly attacks in the city of Damaturu, Yobe State, which killed 150 people, were among the deadliest ever carried out by Boko Haram, an Islamist sect based in the northern part of Nigeria.
The U.S embassy in Nigeria warned the sect could next strike hotels and other targets in the capital Abuja during the Muslim holiday of Eid il-kabir.
"Following the recent Boko Haram, aka Nigerian Taliban, attacks in Borno and Yobe States, the U.S embassy has received information that Boko Haram may plan to attack several locations and hotels in Abuja," the embassy said.
Security was stepped up in Abuja, which has been a target of past attacks, including an August 26 suicide blast at the United Nations headquarters which claimed 24 lives.
The U.S embassy said potential targets could include the Nicon Luxury, the Sheraton and the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja's premier hotels.
Embassy staff had been told to avoid the venues and U.S citizens urged to exercise "additional caution".
In addition to the normal in-house security checks, police were also deployed to the hotels, while armed soldiers stopped and searched bonnets and trunks of cars driving close to the hotels and the central bank in the capital.
Some 13,000 policemen and specialist anti-terror squads were deployed to mosques and churches and other strategic locations across the city on Sunday, a police official said.
Worshippers were screened by metal detectors before they entered some churches.
The British foreign office on Sunday also warned of "a heightened threat of terrorist attacks during the Sallah celebration."
It advised British nationals to maintain a "high level of vigilance."
Nigeria's police spokesman Yemi Ajayi said the force is on "red alert".
"Everywhere is closely monitored, we don't want to take chances, particularly in Abuja," he added.
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