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Boko Haram: We're not safe – Senators
From FRANCIS AWOWOLE-BROWNE, Abuja
As discussions on the activities of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram took the better part of plenary session of the Senate yesterday, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Ringim was on the cross as federal lawmakers fumed over perceived helplessness of the Police Force in the face of sustained attacks by the sect.
Lamenting the decision of the violent group to take the fight to the doorstep of the IGP, the custodian of law and order, shortly after threatening its members, as exemplified in the June 16 bomb attack on the Police Headquarters, the senators expressed fear over their safety.
"If the IG cannot protect himself, then the Senate president cannot boast of his own safety because he depends on the IG for his security; then who are we the senators? There is danger," one of the senators expressed as debate on a motion on the Boko Haram bombing of the Force Headquarters went underway.
Subsequently, the legislators resolved to adopt the motion summoning the IG and other security chiefs to brief it on the security situation in the country so that the legislative arm would know what to do to stop the incessant bomb attacks, which the Senate president said, if not tackled now, would become an "expensive venture" for the nation to grapple with.
Expected to be summoned, Daily Sun gathered, are the IGP, Hafiz Ringim, chief of army staff and his counterparts in the Navy and Air Force as well as the director general of the State Security Service (SSS), who are to give comprehensive situation report to the Senate behind closed door on the spate of bombings.
However, no date has been fixed for their appearance as the senators quickly went into closed door session.
The Senate president had read the communications received by him to the senators, when Senator Ita Enang, Akwa Ibom, raising a point of order, set the tone for the debate via a motion brought under urgent matter of national importance, when he urged that the Senate condemn the bombings across the nation, commiserate with the families of the victims and set up a committee to investigate the Force Headquarters' bombing and be given two weeks to submit its report.
Senator Ayogu Eze, Enugu, in supporting the motion decried the state of insecurity and the international embarrassment it would bring to the nation if not checked on time, adding that sooner than later, foreigners would be entertaining fears to come into the country.
According to him, the last Senate had discussed the issue of violence and terrorism in the nation but did not finish with it before it was dissolved, pointing out that there was need to overhaul the security structures and look into the their operations, recruitments and equipment available to them.
In his own submission, Senator George Sekibo, Rivers, expressed fear over the security of Nigerians, saying, "if the inspector general of police could be bombed, we are in danger. Police Headquarters is a place supposedly fortified with security and yet the number one law enforcement officer of the land could be bombed. The situation calls for worry."
Senator Olusola Adeyeye, Osun, argued that the nation's security hierarchy needed thorough examination. "The political leadership is nearing being terminated. There is sufficient wisdom in this chamber to deal with the situation. We can't leave it in the hand of the executive. If the executive can handle it, we won't be witnessing what we are witnessing now.
He added that a situation where the police top shots would say something now on insecurity and recant later as if they were not professionals, called for worry.
Senator Adeyeye was in reaction to an earlier submission by Senator Ahmed Datti, Niger, who said he differed in content and direction of argument of previous contributors on the matter. To him, the motion to condemn and commiserate with families of victims of bomb blasts, was not in order, because, he said, "to condemn it has already been done, to commiserate, that is being done on daily basis.
"How do we contribute to the efforts and add value is what we should be discussing. Otherwise, we get ourselves embarrassed. If we set up a committee and give it two weeks, what can it do within two weeks, how many security experts will be members to do a through job? For me, security matter should be left to the experts," he stated.
However, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, noted that the menace was "not only of national importance, it's a national emergency and should be viewed as such."
The deputy Senate president, who was short of calling for a state of emergency, said the debate on the bomb blasts was not misplaced, pointing out that the primary function of government as laid down in the Constitution was the protection of lives and property, and the Senate was part of the government.
He noted that the Constitution empowered the Senate to take certain decision on issues threatening the existence of the country. "And this is called state of emergency, though it has been abused in the past. Today, it is Maiduguri, tomorrow it is Abuja, it just has to stop otherwise we just wake up one day and discover the entire nation has been engulfed.
Former vice chairman of the Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes Committee, Senator Dahoru Awaisu Kuta, blamed Ringim over his unguarded statements on the notorious sect as being responsible for the blasts at the Police Headquarters two weeks ago.
"Our security agencies must weigh their words before doing anything. It was wrong for the IGP to say he wanted to deal with them when he never knew they were planning against him."
Former Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Adamu said the spate of bombings across the country was an alien culture in Nigeria and urged the chamber to step up its oversight on the executive arm of government.
"We should desist as a Senate of the Federal Republic, where elder statesmen are, we should desist from addressing symptoms. As a Senate, we have a fundamental responsibility to oversight the executive, what they are doing or what they are about to do."
Former majority leader in the House of Representatives, Senator Abdul Ningi, urged senators to intervene and invite security chiefs for proper briefing on the security situation in the country.
Senator Nkechi Nwaogu called for vigilance and urged the nation to wake up, saying "issues are being handled hastily. How did we allow ourselves to degenerate to the level of bombing ourselves? The issue of Boko Haram started as if it was a religious thing. Now, they are bombing markets. The nation needs to wake up."
The Senate president then put the motion in another perspective when he suggested that the Committee constitution be withheld while security chiefs would be summoned to brief the Senate on the situation report.
According to him, after the briefing, the Senate would know the next line of action because the Committee must have first hand information on the situation before starting work. The motion was redefined to reflect the new position of the Senate and was unanimously approved.
Source: Sun, 29th June 2011.
Army: Boko Haram Tactics, Strange to Us
By Paul Ohia in Lagos, Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri, Senator Iroegbu in Abuja and Wole Ayodele in Jalingo
The Nigerian Army has said the tactics employed by the Islamic fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram, in its operation is strange to it, but assured Nigerians that it is equal to the threat, adding that it will soon unveil strategy to tackle the group.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-General Azubuike Ihejirika, who made this revelation at the opening of the Second Quarter Chief of Army Staff Conference in Abuja Monday, said: "The tactics they employ is relatively new to the country," and vowed to stop them.
He promised to unfold new strategies that would effectively end the growing security threats posed by the sect, who had been terrorising some sections of the country.
He said: "Nigerian Army having studied the method of operation (in collaboration with other security agents), very soon the country will notice improvement and new security agreements."
The COAS said the presence of soldiers at strategic places in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) since last Thursday was part of the emerging strategies to enforce and maintain security in the current atmosphere of terrorism caused by the spate of bombings across the country.
He advised the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) residents to brace up for the unintended inconveniences being created by the recent joint security stop-and-search checks led by the Army, effectively taking the task of securing lives and properties in the nation's capital from the Nigerian Police Force.
"The enforcement of security at the hands of soldiers on vehicles is because they are being proactive, while there will be searches on the road. Nigerians should be able to adapt to the temporary security measures," he said.
Ihejirika further disclosed that one key item of the meeting which was purely security measures would be a closed door meeting as general officers commanding (GOCs) and commanders would receive briefing on how to confront the menace of Boko Haram once and for all.
He emphasised that the purpose of the conference was to take stock of the first and second quarter activities especially in the areas of security responsibilities in various commands.
According to him, the meeting would also discuss ways of improving elections and analysis of areas of improvement.
Speaking earlier, the Chief of Policy and Plans, Maj-Gen O. Akinyemi, noted that the current security challenges, especially the problem of Boko Haram in some parts of the country, was one of the contemporary challenges that needed to be immediately addressed.
Akinyemi said that deliberations during the conference would come up with recommendations and strategies towards addressing these challenges.
He noted that the presentations and discussions during the first quarter conference as well as the implementations of the decisions arrived at during the conference contributed in no small measures to the successes achieved by the Army in support of the election process as they had received accolades from various quarters for its conduct during the elections.
"Some lessons must have been learnt which could assist the Army to improve in possible future internal security tasks," he said.
Meanwhile, another explosion Monday in Maiduguri, Borno State claimed the lives of two child hawkers and injured several others including two Customs officers.
The blast followed a similar one that was detonated in the same city a day earlier that left 25 dead and 12 injured.
Monday's explosion, which was as a result of detonated bombs planted around the Customs office building in Maiduguri occurred at about 2.30pm.
THISDAY gathered that the bombs were targeted at the Customs office and a hospital located at the centre of the ancient town.
Confirming the incident, Commandant of the Joint Military Task Force, Maj-General Okechukwu Nwaogbo, said the child hawkers were killed in the blast. He also disclosed that several other persons were injured.
The commandant of the Joint Military Task Force established by the Federal Government to checkmate the menace of the Islamic fundamentalist sect, had earlier revealed that the mayhem visited on the state on Sunday by alleged members of the group was an ambush and not bomb blasts as earlier reported.
Nwaogbo, who refused to give the figure of casualties, said investigations revealed that between eight and 10 members of the group came on about seven motorcycles to the local drinking joint, set the place on fire and took strategic positions.
He said during the attack, which took place between 5 and 6.30pm on Sunday, the group shot at anyone that tried to escape the raging inferno.
The commandant of the task force tagged "Operation Restore Order", said he would not be able to give the number of casualties as the figure might increase as there were still some persons on critical list at the hospital, but said: "We lost lives there but not as high as being reported."
Nwaogbo also disclosed that two persons were in custody and were assisting the taskforce in its investigations. He said the two persons were sent by some people to go on surveillance of churches in Maiduguri.
He said intelligence on the group revealed that they were asked to mingle with worshippers and bring report back to their principals but were lucky to be apprehended by church members who brought them to his men.
The commandant said they were helping with investigations and his men were already going after their principals, assuring the residents of Maiduguri that the task force was not out to intimidate anybody.
He said his men were deployed to ensure the safety of lives and property and to cooperate with everybody in the task of getting this done.
In a similar development, the Borno State Commandant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Bwala Hatsiwa, has said that to arrest the Boko Haram upsurge in the country then, teeth must be given to the current drug war.
Also, the Amnesty International has called on members of the Boko Haram to stop attacks on civilians after the bombing that killed as many as 25 in Maiduguri Sunday.
However, the group was silent on the attack on the Nigerian military and police but rather mentioned at the later part of a press statement issued yesterday that the Nigerian security forces had carried out mass arrests, tortured suspects and detained people without charge or trial for lengthy periods.
Source: This Day, 28th June 2011.
Boko Haram: Senate invites security chiefs
By Bisi Olaniyi, Clarice Azuatalam (Port Harcourt) and Dele Anofi, (Abuja)
ON a day the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) expressed deep concerns over the spate of bombings in some parts of Nigeria, the Senate yesterday summoned the heads of all security agencies.
The security chiefs are to brief the upper legislative chamber on the bombings for which the controversial Islamic sect, Boko Haram, has been claiming responsibility.
They are to meet the senators in a closed session. Their invitation followed a point of order on matter of urgent public importance raised by Senator Ita Enang on the June 16 explosion at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
In a joint statement, the US and the EU condemned the act as an affront to the rule of law and democratic process.
Raising the point of order, Enang said the act and other acts of terrorism must be condemned as they were an embarrassment to the country's security system.
Senator Ayogu Eze said the Sixth Senate had ended its session on the issue of security and, as such, the matter had gone beyond paying lip-service.
He said intensive and critical investigations must be carried out to determine the issues involved and solutions proffered.
He said: "It is a matter that should go beyond paying lip-service.
"And we should look at some of the critical factors behind what is happening because the terrorists, as they are branded, have some reasons, like failures within the system, that must have prompted their actions.
"We must begin to look at some of these causes as well as put measures in place to secure our nation because this is gradually becoming a national embarrassment."
According to him, if a solution was not proffered immediately, it might result in foreigners, especially investors, refusing to invest in the country.
Senator George Sekibo was concerned about the apparent lack of security in the country to the extent that the nation nearly lost one of its chief security officers.
Sekibo said: "How can our security system be so low that we almost lost our I-G (Inspector-General of Police)?
"It is also alarming that the act was carried out in the premises of the chief law enforcement agent where there are bomb detectors and yet a bomb went in and exploded there.
"It has gone out of control and we must support the efforts to find solution to this predicament."
Senator Olushola Adeyeye challenged his colleagues to summon enough courage to put a stop to violence.
Adeyeye said: "Wherever a society hangs on the toes of daily violence, the political leadership must summon the wisdom and courage to terminate the violence or that political leadership will be terminated by violence.
"What we are witnessing in Abuja has shown that even the Inspector-General of Police cannot boast of his security. How much more the Senate President, senators and other citizens?
"I believe there is sufficient wisdom in this chamber to examine the problems and proffer solution because this is not a problem we can leave in the hands of the executive alone.''
Senator Awaisu Kuta cautioned the various security agents to guard their utterances in order not to aggravate the matter further.
Senate President David Mark said: "What we are witnessing now is very small. If you go to countries like Israel or Lebanon or some of the countries in the Middle East, they are subjected to a lot of inconveniences because of the security nature of their own environment.''
Mark described security as an expensive venture that could not be taken for granted and warned that if the issue was not tackled now, it would become more expensive to manage.
Source: The Nation, 29th June 2011.
The Boko Haram Riddle
Wale Sokunbi ( 08056180228 walesokunbi2003@yahoo.co.uk)
Of all the recent developments in the polity, one major issue stands out as seriously deserving of attention. It is the Boko Haram riddle. This is a problem that is claiming so many lives and property yet, no matter how hard Nigerians wish the problem of the violent religious fundamentalist sect which believes education is a sin would go away, it becomes more serious by day.
Hardly any day passes without reports of bombs being detonated in one part of the North or the other. When Nigerians thought that the bomb explosion at the Nigeria Police Headquarters, Abuja, on June 16 was the climax of the saga that would force a prompt resolution of the problem by the authorities, the bombings have continued unabated.
The most recent of the dastardly bombings occurred last Sunday with the bombing of drinking joints in the Boko Haram stronghold, Maiduguri, killing about 25 people. As usual, the incident left in its trail blood and tears, and questions on when the government will eventually get around the problem of the sect that has become a threat to peace and security of the country.
The Boko Haram menace has become a conundrum that Nigeria's security agencies need to quickly unravel. It is, indeed, worrisome that some elements in the society will set themselves up as a government and ride roughshod over the people, killing and maiming at will with government only responding with promises to get to the root the problem.
Unfortunately, it has become glaring to even the most devoted supporters of the government that the authorities are at their wits end on this riddle. It is clear that the pronouncements of government and the threats of tackling the problem with superior ammunition will not solve the problem. The Boko Haram left no one in doubt about this with the daring bombing within the premises of the Police Headquarters. This is clearly because it is not always easy to fight a guerilla war such as Boko Haram has declared on the authorities with use of firearms only.
The more important thing to do on this issue is to deploy superior intelligence to detect the security threats where they are and pre-empt their attacks.
In addition, the impunity with which the sect has been killing since it launched its first attack around 2009 is another incentive to more of such attacks.
It is not only on Boko Haram that government is guilty on this. Over the years, mindless killing of people in different parts of the country have gone unpunished, thereby creating the impression that government lacks the wherewithal to tackle such problems.
In Plateau State, religious cum political riots have turned the once beautiful Plateau that we all grew up to know as a tourist attraction into a no go area for many Nigerians.
In other parts of the country, people are killed at will. There are so many unresolved high profile murders. A former chief law officer of the nation, Chief Bola Ige, was murdered with no one punished for it. So many other politicians and businessmen have been butchered with no serious effort seen made to bring their murderers to book.
The lesson from such dastardly acts is that people are free to take the law into their hands and engage in jungle justice. When such crimes are not punished, other people are emboldened to carry out similar acts.
The diary of killings by Boko Haram reflects this. Records show that since the group unleashed one of its earliest attacks on Dutsen-Tanshi police station in Bauchi on July 26, 2009, its attacks have been increasing at an alarming proportion.
While the group clashed with the police four times in July 2009, leading to the death of some policemen, a soldier and a fire service officer, the group attacked about three times in 2010.
In the September 7, 2010 attack, 700 of its detained members were set free. Since the beginning of this year alone, 24 attacks have been attributed to the group, with many policemen and civilians dead. This situation has become such that all Nigerians, and not only security agents are worried on the implications of such brazen attacks for the peace of the country.
With incessant bombings and killings, and the insistence of Boko Haram on issuing commands to the Federal Government on implementation of Sharia law and the people they do not want as state governors, Nigerians need to sit up to ensure that the prediction by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that Nigeria may disintegrate in 2015 does not come to pass.
The outcome of the recent presidential election and the violence that trailed it are worrisome signposts that future elections in the country may provoke such mayhem as may threaten the peaceful existence of the country. Already, the sect is insisting on its demand for declaration of 12 core Northern States as Islamic States.
What all these point to is that government should be proactive and decisive in tackling the challenge of the fundamentalists. The way to go about it is not through violence. If government cannot masterfully declare its sovereignty over the Boko Haram elements, it should engage them with a view to ending their reign of violence.
That is not, however, to say that they should be paid through an amnesty package. Indeed, they have not demanded such payment. The government should rather get to the root of their grievances and find a way to arrive at a solution that offers the best hope for a peaceful resolution of the problem.
The government will do well to determine the underpinnings of the sect, including their backers and sponsors, to arrive at this solution. If this riddle is not resolved carefully and expeditiously, it will lead to more crises. The search for a solution must be inclusive and not something that one government official arrives at unilaterally. In that wise, the plan by the government to build 100 schools for almajiris, to take them off the streets and stem restiveness, though good, is coming rather late in the day. It cannot address the present problem of Boko Haram but will come in useful for the near future.
One of the reasons why the Boko Haram challenge has to be tackled expeditiously is its capacity to encourage similar problems in other parts of the country. Already, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) led by Barrister Ralph Uwazuruike has threatened to resort to violence to get the ears of the government. Let the problem be handled in the way that it will not generate more problems for the country.
Although the Federal Government has been reported to have invited foreign intelligence agencies to help resolve the Bokom Haram imbroglio, the government itself must do more, internally, to address the problem. The Boko Haram riddle is partly a fallout of the failure of Nigerian leaders to provide for good education and decent living for the youths. The twin problem of poverty and unemployment is a fuel boosting development of anti-social and violent tendencies among disenfranchised Nigerian youths.
A nation that cares for its youths and provides opportunities for good education, gainful employment and self actualisation is not likely to wake up one day and find Boko Haram problem on its doorsteps. What Nigeria has on her hands is what happens when youths become angry with the government and they become easy prey in the hands of those who have grouses with the authorities.
The involvement of foreigners in the attacks, as confirmed by the group, has worsened the problem and unless tackled quickly, could lead to more serious developments.
To resolve the problem, serious engagement of religious and political leaders in the North and strict adherence to rule of law in handling those found guilty of criminal offences during any mayhem will go a long way. Islamic religious leaders and institutions have a major role to play in resolving the Boko Haram conundrum. President Jonathan and the security agencies should give them pride of place in the quest for restoration of peace in the Northern part of the country while security and intelligence agencies should do more to bring the problem under control.
Source: Sun, 29th June 2011.
Boko Haram: how it all started
…Plus details of how the late Yusuf's father began the ideology in the 60's
From ISMAIL OMIPIDAN
Until recently, the group was never known as "Boko Haram (Western education is a sin)," but it is known to be against Western education and forbids one working in any government establishment. The name Boko Haram, may have been given to it by members of the public, because of the group's opposition to Western education.
The group, which initially drew membership from the South-West, started off as "The Taliban." It was first invited to Yobe State during the build-up to the 2003 elections, in the wake of Sharia implementation in some states in the North. However, because the election in the state did not assume the dimension their host thought it would take, the group was said to have been abandoned to its fate, before the state government ordered them to vacate its vicinity.
The group first struck in Yobe State in December 2003, precisely on December 22, a day after according to the then governor, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, they had promised to leave the state. The group equally struck again on December 31, 2003, in Yobe State, while on their way to Borno State on the New Year's day, when they engaged in a gun duel with military personnel drafted to the borders between Borno and Yobe states, a situation that left two of the members dead.
Findings indicate that the group's initial abode was Burkarti, in Bursari Council of Yobe State before leaving for Kanamma, a border town between Nigeria and Niger. Kanamma is the headquarters of Yunusari Council, also in Yobe State. It is also not far from Gaidam Local Government, where the leader of the group, Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf hails from. Their first strike in Borno State was recorded on Tuesday, September 21, 2004, when they invaded Bama and Gwoza in Borno State, where the Area Commander-in-Charge of Bama, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ismail Sirajo, was brutally murdered.
This forced former Borno Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, to call for assistance from the Federal Government. And after about four days of gun battle between them and a combined team of army and mobile policemen, the group was subdued, with about 40 of the members killed.
A year later, the late Yusuf, leader of the group resurfaced in Maiduguri in Bayan Quarters, where members of the group from all over the country, especially the North converged. In one of the encounters with Ustaz Yusuf in 2005, shortly after one of his arrests, he confessed to this reporter that he had since severed his relationship with the Taliban group because of their "extremist" tendencies. He was, however, quick to admit that his group would not relent until an "independent and a just state devoid of anything haram (unGodly) was established."
Since that 2005 till their attacks in 2009 in Kano, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno, he was always a guest of the security operatives in Abuja. And as at the last count, before his brutal murder, allegedly by the police, his release was facilitated by a frontline Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) chieftain and a former presidential aspirant from one of North Central states in Nigeria.
Details of how the late Yusuf's father began the ideology in the 60's
Scary details have emerged on how the Boko Haram ideology was actually started by the late Yusuf's father, in Gashua, Bade Local Government Area of Yobe State, which was then under the old Borno State.
Unknown to many, the late Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf, Daily Sun can authoritatively reveal actually inherited the idea of condemning Western education from the father, who started it all in the 60's, while he was still living in Gashua.
How it all started
In the past, and even till date, there are certain Islamic scholars, who obviously out of ignorance, believe strongly that any Muslim who attends the conventional schools, other than Islamic schools would certainly not enter Paradise. It was, therefore, common to find the Almajiris who roam most streets in the northern part of the country telling anyone who cares to listen that "Mallam ya ce du wan da eje makaranta boko, wuta ze shiga (my Islamic teacher says anyone who goes to seek Western education would enter hell fire.)"
Daily Sun's investigation reveals that the late Yusuf's father was one of the numerous Islamic scholars popularising the ideology that views Western education as anti-Islam. Unfortunately for him, the emir of his area at that time, who is now late, Umar Suleiman, whose son, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Suleiman, is the present emir of Bade, with headquarters in Gashua, was well educated, both in Islamic and Western education, and such could not stomach the Boko Haram ideology within his domain.
From available records, the late Suleiman who became emir at a very young age of 26, memorised the Holy Qur'an when he was just six years old. He was said to have invited the late Yusuf's father to his palace, to ascertain from him if it was true that he was preaching against Western education. Once investigations confirmed the earlier reports received on Yusuf's father, the emir did not hesitate to banish him from the town. And that was how he relocated to Ngazaragamo emirate, which is based in Gaidam.
Ngazaragamo to Kano
Before now, the Ngazaragamo emirate, which covers up to Damaturu, the now state capital of Yobe extends to as far as Chad and Niger, the neighbouring countries. But today, in Yobe, the emirate has been split into two, making Damaturu a separate emirate from that of Ngazaragamo. Daily Sun further gathered authoritatively that contrary to Yusuf's claim that he was born in Gashua, he was actually born in Gaidam, while the father was still in exile.
While in Ngazaragamo, Yusuf's father was said to have continued his preaching unhindered until the Maitaisine crisis broke out in Kano. Although, he was not known to be a Maitaisine, he felt he owed it a duty to rise in "defence of Islam." He left his base, and moved to Kano.
Unfortunately for him, however, by the time he was arriving Kano, most of the entery points were said to have been condoned off by security men, and that was how he lost his life in a crossfire.
Yusuf raised by the father's friend
Daily Sun can authoritatively reveal that the late Yusuf never knew his father in the real sense of it, as he was raised by the father's friend, Mohammed Fugu Alhaji, who later became his in-law. He grew up with the in-law, who may have told him (Yusuf) about the activities of his late father, because as it later turned out, Yusuf grew up harbouring serious hatred for Western education, and any Muslim who sought the knowledge.
This, perhaps, may have explained why till his death, he never saw the four walls of a conventional school, even at the primary level. And it was the father-in-law that relocated him and other family members to Maiduguri, where the gospel of Boko Haram ideology spread like wildfire. In fact, in the early stage of the group, he was able to attract membership from the families of the high and mighty in Borno and Yobe states. In fact, at a point, one of the sons of a former SSG in one of the States in the North-East region, was a member of his group.
Source: Sun, 17th June 2011.
Suicide Bombers in Our Midst
By Toyosi Ogunseye
The explosion that rocked the Nigerian Police Headquarters on Wednesday after a suicide bomber drove into the building that serves as the office of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, is a confirmation that indeed suicide bombers are in our midst.
The bomber, who is believed to have died in the attack was said to have parked his Honda Civic car in the area reserved for Ringim 15 minutes after the IG got to the office. While being questioned over why he parked his car in that particular spot, the explosive went off.
Thursday's explosion, which occurred barely 24 hours after the IG proclaimed that the days of the Boko Haram sect were numbered, was not the first time a Nigerian bomber would die after detonating the explosive on him.
In March 2011, two men who were carrying an Improvised Electronic Device on a motorcycle around Dualla junction in Jos died instantly after the explosive was detonated on motion.
Even though the Jos incident may be said to be an unconscious act by the carriers, the Abuja episode appears different. The bomber, whose identity is still unknown, seemed to have made a conscious and deliberate effort to detonate the explosive.
While suicide attacks are a common occurrence in countries that have a high rate of terrorist attacks, Nigeria recorded its first clear case on Thursday. And it may not be the last.
In fact, intelligence reports gathered earlier in the year revealed that the next stage of terrorism apart from the recent bomb explosions that had rocked the nation would be suicide bombing.
On March 20, 2011, SUNDAY PUNCH exclusively reported that a fundamentalist group, al-Qaeda, and Somali militants had begun massive recruitment of youngsters as suicide bombers in Nigeria.
The report indicated that some Nigerian youths had been recruited to be suicide bombers by the al-Qaeda and the Al-Shabaa – a fundamentalist group in Somalia.
The groups reportedly have serious links with the Boko Haram sect in the North and are spreading the gospel of suicide bombing and convincing the youths of the 'benefits' of embracing the act.
SUNDAY PUNCH had also reported that Nigerians should not be surprised if the country started witnessing the occurrence of suicide bombers as the masterminds were recruiting youngsters and convincing them that they would go to heaven if they planted explosives on their bodies. Some of them were also promised huge amounts of money if they accepted to go ahead with the act.
In March also, the Head of the Economic Desk of the Nigerian Embassy in Riyahd, Saudi Arabia and Ambassador designate, Ahmed Magaji, warned that the crisis in Yemen posed a great danger to the national security of Nigeria.
Magaji, who spoke during the Senate committee on Foreign affairs ambassadorial screening, acknowledged the large presence of Nigerians in the Middle East country and said some of them were being trained by the al-Qaeda.
The ambassador told a bewildered Senate that the al-Qaeda had specifically mentioned Nigeria as a country that was ripe for fundamentalists operations and that events in the Middle East and Libya shouldn't be treated with kid gloves.
Magaji also said the now embattled Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, during a meeting with the then Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, last October threatened to use Nigeria's internal weakness to destabilise the country.
Similarly, a senior official of the Federal Bureau of Investigations Academy, Quantico, United States, confirmed the fears of Magaji and other security chiefs.
The FBI boss said the message of the late Osama Bin Laden, the al-Qaeda leader had spread rapidly in the country.
He said that it was not only al-Qaeda that was propagating the gospel of Osama but that Al-Shabaab too was involved and they were winning disciples, especially in the northern part of Nigeria.
Following this discovery, the FBI approached the Federal Government on the need to train security agencies on bomb detection and detonation.
The training attracted representatives of the Police Anti-Bomb Squad Unit, Immigration Service, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the State Security Service.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Shola Amore, however, gave an assurance that if suicide bombers existed in the country, the intelligence unit of the force would catch up with them.
This promise given by the police was put to test by Thursday's attack.
The audacity of the bomber and the masterminds of this dastardly act, no doubt sent shivers down the spines of the citizenry who received the news with shock.
Though there has been an increase in the number of explosive attacks in the past months and bombings are no longer strange news to most people, targeting the Force Headquarters has further increased the insecurity level in the country.
After all, if the IG is not safe, who is safe?
Source: Punch, 17th June 2011.
Terror Hits Police Headquarters
FROM MARTINS OLOJA, MADU ONUORAH, JOHN-ABBA OGBODO, TERHEMBA DAKA, NKECHI ONYEDIKA, JOKE AKANMU (ABUJA) JOHN OGIJI (MINNA)
Two die, 33 vehicles burnt, 40 damaged in Abuja blast
Suicide bomber fingered in explosion
Panic in N'Assembly complex, Govs, others condemn incident
FROM the gate, an unusual disquiet prevailed. Policemen, some armed, others with their hands on their heads stood sentry. Thick smoke and a bellowing flame filled the sky. There were quick movements in and out of the building by aid workers, who struggled with their equipment to put off the fire.
A few metres to the structure, charred remains of human flesh dotted the bonnets of some vehicles parked outside the fence. Routes leading to the building were cordoned by the security agents.
The scene was the Force Headquarters of the Nigeria Police in Asokoro District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where a suspected suicide bomber in a car detonated an explosive yesterday.
Police authorities confirmed that a lone "suicide bomber" suspected to be a member of the Boko Haram sect (hates of western civilisation) yesterday attacked the Louis Edet House with explosives, killing several persons and wounding others.
Police spokesman, Olusola Amore told reporters that two persons, a Traffic Warden and the suspect died as the high calibre explosive device he carried in his car went off at about 10:46 a.m. But witnesses said the casualty figure was higher.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan, who had earlier scheduled a meeting with his close aides, cancelled the meeting when the bomb blast shook the State House precincts.
A source told The Guardian: "Yes, the bomb blasts affected the normal schedule of the President, who had a meeting with his national security team, including the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS) and the Inspector-General of Police."
The explosion rocked the Police building, which provides offices for the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Ringim and other senior police officers, shattering the windows.
Visitors were not spared as an unconfirmed number were allegedly killed or wounded.
It was learnt that 33 vehicles at the car park located within the precincts of the Force Headquarters were burnt beyond recognition. The police said 40 other vehicles were damaged in the blast.
The Guardian saw the burnt body of a man on the driver's seat in one of the burnt cars. He is believed to have been caught in the explosion, which caused fear in the city.
Panic-stricken police personnel were seen in groups discussing the incident, which they said killed many and injured several of their colleagues.
Narrating the incident in tears, one of the food vendors at the Force Headquarters, claimed civilian visitors who patronised the eatery in the complex were affected in the blast.
Unofficial sources said a visitor (suspected suicide bomber) had driven a car into the car park reserved for senior police officers.
On sighting him, a police officer at the gate allegedly instructed a Traffic Warden to direct the driver to park appropriately. It was while in the process of negotiating and heading for the car park meant for the public that the explosive-laden exploded, hitting other vehicles in the premises, which caught fire, and resulted in the death of the victims.
A rescue team from the Federal Fire Service, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State House ambulances as well as those from the FCT and soldiers led by the Guards Brigade Commander, Brig-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe were on hand to render services.
Bomb experts and personnel of the fire brigade service were also sighted criss-crossing the premises to put off the fire resulting from the explosion.
Specifically, vehicles approaching the police headquarters from the Federal Secretariat as well as those from the Area 11 in Garki were diverted as the security agents mounted checks points.
In a chat with journalists, Amore blamed the incident on the Boko Haram sect.
He said Ringim had expressed displeasure over the attack.
According to Amore, "the unfortunate incident occurred at about 11.00 hours when the suicide bomber's vehicle was intercepted and directed to the car park for searching and checking.
"The traffic warden who entered the vehicle of the suicide bomber to direct him to the car park was blown off along with him, that is the suicide bomber as soon as they got to the car park.
"The IGP wishes to appreciate the efforts of the rescue workers, who promptly responded to put out the fire. The body of the suicide bomber has been recovered and full investigation has commenced.
"Members of the public are assured that the criminal elements behind this dastardly act will be fished out as the government, the police and other security agencies will not succumb to the demand of any criminal group or individuals. You agree with me that the matter is still fresh and that is why I have to give you this press statement. The IGP will later talk to you."
The interview went thus:
Is the IGP not embarrassed by this development?
No, the IGP will not be embarrassed because I don't think this is the first time you will have attack either on a security organisation. You all remember the attack of September 11, the president of the United States did not resign because of the 9/11 attack. Definitely, the criminal elements are planning their own attack but I can assure you that the security agencies will rise to the challenge.
Do you have an idea of whom these bombers are because you said the police would not succumb to their demand?
Definitely, we will be suspecting those groups that go by the name ''Boko Haram'' who have been issuing threats upon threats and for which the police is rising up to that challenge. You remember, we just came back from Maiduguri, Borno State, where we took 10 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to rise up to the challenge of insecurity in the state.
Why were your security people at the gate not able to detect this before the suspect gained entry into the premises?
From what I told you, you can see that it was the interception of the security people that led them to ask a traffic warden to direct him to the car park where it would be properly searched. So, it was in the course of searching and checking the vehicle that the bomb went up.
What about the casualty figure?
I told you the suicide bomber and the police traffic warden that accompanied him.
There were people at the car park!
Well, that is why NEMA and the police were still working and combing and as we get more information, we will inform you.
What type of car did the suicide bomber use?
The vehicle has been blown off, so you cannot actually say this is the type of vehicle.
At what time did the incident occur?
At 1100 hours.
How many people are in the hospital now?
I think it is too early to mention the number of people in the hospital. You will be given briefings at intervals to ensure that members of the public have the necessary information.
Have you recovered the body of the bomber?
The shattered body is there. It has been recovered and you know with the DNA and other means, all those things will be identified.
How are you going to identify the body of the police traffic warden?
Definitely, the tattered uniform of the Traffic Warden will differentiate him from the suicide bomber.
Was he alone in the car?
He was alone.
Does it mean that it was only one device that exploded?
It was only one device.
But it shook the entire Abuja?
We don't know the magnitude. The anti-bomb unit will be able to analyse the explosive and tell us the magnitude, the device used, that is when we will be able to talk about it.
How many vehicles were damaged?
We have about 33 vehicles damaged beyond repair and maybe, some 40 others partially damaged.
From security perspective, was it wise for you to have allowed a traffic warden to conduct a search on the vehicle at the Force Headquarters?
No, he drove in and the traffic was directing him to where to park. It was because he wanted to park at senior officers' car space that the traffic warden entered and directed him to the car park.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Governor and Chairman, Northern Governor's Forum, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, has joined other Nigerians to condemn the incident.
The governor, in a statement in Minna yesterday and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo, described the act as horrendous and cowardice, saying that the killings, maiming and destruction of public property would never bring any good to Nigeria.
He called on security agents to launch full inquiry into what he called "dastardly act" with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book.
Also, former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has condemned bomb blast.In a statement made available to The Guardian, Ezeife said the recurring incidence of bomb blast and killing of innocent Nigerians in some part of the country be curbed by the government.
According to him: "The Bible does not, nor does the Qu'ran or Haddith, provide any excuse for shedding the blood of innocent Nigerians.
The government has already deployed relevant response teams to combat the crisis".
In a statement by NEMA spokesman, Mr. Yushau Shuaib, it said but for the timely intervention of the agency, among other security agencies, the blast could have gone out of hand.
It stated that Director-General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, who immediately mobilised rescue and evacuation teams from the agency to the site of explosion, ordered the release and use of specialised equipment for the operation.
Source: The Guardian, 17th June 2011.
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