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| A soldier searching a vehicle at the Millennium Park’s gate following a threat of attack by Boko Haram in Abuja |
The names of seven of those arrested are: Mohammed Musa Kafinta; Abbana Madu Melle; Babakura Madu Melle; Ba’ana Barbadus; Madu Melle; Suleiman Umar and Mohammed Ali Waziri.
The names of the remaining two could not be confirmed last night. The suspects were moved to Damaturu, the state capital, for “documentation”.
The JTF may release their identities to the public in Damaturu today.
According to a source, the suspects were picked up at their secret base after about 72 hours of manhunt.
The source said: “I can conveniently tell you that the manhunt in the last 72 hours by the JTF (comprising the Army, the Police, the State Security Services and other intelligence agencies) has led to the arrest of nine suspects.
“These suspected Boko Haram members were holed up at a secret base in Gujba where they were arrested at about 8.30pm on Monday.
“The JTF’s preliminary interrogation of the men revealed that they were among those who executed the bombings in Damaturu and Potiskum at the weekend.
“From the JTF records, the suspects were on the wanted list of security agencies over the series of bombings in the Northeast.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “We had to quickly move the suspects away from Gujba at night to avoid reprisals from their colleagues who are still on the run.
“We will soon release their identities to the public after documentation and interrogation. This is certainly a breakthrough.
Security agencies are working on the clue that Boko Haram men who attacked Yobe State at the weekend may have had external support, The Nation learnt yesterday.
No fewer than 150 people are believed to have died from the co-ordinated attacks on Yobe State capital Damaturu and the second city of Potiskum.
The Boko Haram men attacked security posts with guns and bombs, fleeing thereafter.
A security source said yesterday: “The clues are most probable overnight invasion of Yobe State from a base outside the state; reprisals from fleeing Boko Haram members whose hideouts have been uncovered in Kano and Maiduguri; and the likelihood of external backing for the terror strikes.”
He added: “We have launched a manhunt for the bombers who wreaked havoc on Yobe State. The bombers operated like fleeing suspects pouncing on anything in sight.
“If you know the topography of Damaturu, it is easier to identify who is who. The truth is that the attacks on Damaturu amounted to an invasion from a base outside the state. That is the strongest clue we are working on.
“Recent security reports confirmed that the Joint Task Force (JTF) has gained far-reaching mileage in restoring peace to Borno State and the Northeast.
“There is also a suspicion of external collaboration. It seems Boko Haram is now operating from some of the neighbouring countries which have always had links with al-Qaeda.
“It is too early to talk about preliminary investigation, but the security agencies have a marching order to uncover the bombers.”
Yesterday, the federal government dismissed the United States warning of the likelihood of Boko Haram strike at major hotels in Abuja as “no news”.
In an emergency message to its citizens at the weekend, the US Embassy in Nigeria issued a travel warning and specifically said Transcorp Hilton, Sheraton and Nicon Luxury hotels in Abuja may be attacked by Boko Haram during the Sallah break.
It said the hotels are patronised by diplomats, politicians and the business elite.
Canada also followed with advice to its citizens to avoid the Abuja hotels.
But, in a statement signed by National Security Adviser ((NSA) Gen. Owoye Azazi in Abuja, and read by the Director of Policy and Strategy in the Office of the NSA, Ambassador Clement Laseinde, accompanied by the spokesperson of the State Security Service (SSS), Ms Marilyn Ogar and Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Under Secretary, Regions and International Organisation, Akin Fayomi, the Federal Government said that the threat on the three hotels is not new.
The Statement reads: “The attention of the Federal Government has been drawn to a publication making the rounds in the media of planned attacks on three major hotels in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Expectedly, the publication is eliciting unhealthy public anxiety and generating avoidable tension.”
“The current threat of attack on the three hotels in Abuja is not news, and for over three months, the security services have taken pro-active measures to protect the designated critical facilities and others.”
“The Federal Government wants to advise members of the public that it would continue to ensure the security of lives and property under its jurisdiction despite the unfortunate events in Maiduguri and Yobe over the weekend.”
SSS spokesperson Ms Ogar said the situation is not above what the security agencies can handle.
She said: “We have internal security challenges and it is nothing new. And if you ask where did this information about likely attack on the hotels come from, it is basically from the internet, which subsequently somebody sent as an e-mail and we thought that had been addressed. I don’t see any problem that is beyond the Nigerian security agencies. Of course, we have deployed men and beefed up security everywhere.
“We said that on 26th or 27th of October, we had text messages making their rounds that some targets were going to be bombed in Abuja. In my subsequent press statement on November 2, we did say that we traced those that sent the message to a secondary school in Kagara in Niger State, students of 18 and 17 years and of course may be out of mischief, because they said there was an advert in a national daily that said if anybody had information concerning Boko Haram should send the information to a particular number.
“Maybe because they were idle, they decided to play pranks with it. So, you find out that Nigerians always use our various security challenges as instrument may be to frighten or create unnecessary fear and panic within the society. There is nothing that is above the security agencies,” she stated.
On America and Canada’s messages to their citizens, she said: “If America sent out that message, it is nothing too strange. It is not because our country is disintegrating. If Canada has followed suit, there is nothing new to it. We have had a wonderful Sallah though with some pockets of crises here and there, but they are not issues that we have not been able to contain.”
Pointing out that there is no nation without its security challenges, she said: “Even the US has security challenges and I don’t think they will say it is beyond their security agencies. It is not right to pass judgment.”
She also said the security situations in Yobe and Borno states are under control, just as she pleaded with Nigerians to come forward with information.
Checks around the three hotels yesterday showed that security was beefed up in Nicon Luxury Hotel while the other two hotels witness similar measures already put in place in the past months.
SOURCE: The Nation Newspaper
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