Security Agencies Thwart Boko Haram Escape

A combined effort of security agencies saved the day on Friday as suspected Boko Haram terrorists stormed a Directorate of Security Services (DSS) facility in Lokoja and tried to free their members detained there.

This is as the Nigerian military said that over 200 members of Boko Haram terrorists group on Friday surrendered to their troops in newly liberated Banki Town of Borno State, North-eastern part of the country.

The effort of the police, DSS operatives and soldiers that were later called in successfully beat back the terrorists who allegedly stormed the facility with explosives to blow their way through so as to free their detained members.

Reports of pandemonium due to confusion on whether the shootings and explosions heard in the vicinity were from armed robbery attacks which are rife in the area prevailed till it was confirmed that it was a Boko Haram invasion.

Although no security agency was willing to speak on record, THISDAY gathered that the attack on the DSS facility was foiled with the arrival of soldiers to beef up the efforts of other security agencies.

The surrender of the terrorists was confirmed in a statement signed yesterday by the Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman.

The surrender was corroborated by the Theatre Commander of the Operation Lafiya Dole (Peace is a Must) in the north east, Major General Yusha'u Mahmud Abubakar who said that over 200 Boko Haram sect surrendered to the troop in Banki on Friday.

Usman recalled that the troops had on Thursday captured the economic important and strategic town of Banki in Borno State which is equally noted for fishing.

He said that the former Boko Haram enclave was a major economic and trading activity between Nigeria, Cameroon and Central African countries.

He noted that during the previous encounter, Nigerian troops not only recaptured the town, but several Boko Haram terrorists were captured while the stubborn terrorist who refused to surrender were killed in the military offensive.

In a related development, the Army spokesman also sent "A very strong and serious final warning to some prominent individuals and political groups who hail from Borno State in particular and North East generally, that there was information of plans by some highly placed individuals and political groups to undermine and scuttle the fight against terrorism and insurgency in this country".

"The unscrupulous individuals and their cohorts were determined to reverse the gains made and scuttle our efforts of achieving the Presidential directive to defeat Boko Haram terrorists within three months".
He alleged that the concerned individuals were enlisting the services of some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) in this grand design.

According to Usman, "It has come to our knowledge that they were employing every means to see that our operation does not succeed in order for them to continue to enjoy certain benefits.

"It has been revealed that they are employing the services of marabouts and other unethical means in order to frustrate our efforts and the operations in addition to campaign of calumny."

Usman said that the Army was aware of their clandeastine meetings and other diabolical efforts to achieve their nefarious aims, warning that "this would not be tolerated".
Therefore, he said, such individuals and groups should be warned in unmistakable terms that anyone found would be dealt with accordingly.

He urged that "People should place the interest of the nation above any personal gain or ambition", adding that "the continued loss of lives and properties in this country through terrorists activities does not one any good".
The liberated town had been under the control of terrorists for over a year now.

Abubakar said: "I am happy to inform you that over 200 terrorists group surrendered to my troops around Banki town. The field commander just called me and briefed me about the development an hour ago."

The Army chief called on other terrorist members to lay down their arms as there was no escaping their eventual capture.
He said that the three months ultimatum given to the military to defeat the insurgents was visible.
According to him, “The militants had been depleted and before the expiration of the ultimatum they will have no Nigerian territory under their control.
Abubakar said it was clear to everyone that the insurgents had lost grip and were about going into extinction.
He however did not rule out the pocket of attacks on soft target, insisting that it may be difficult to rule out this even after the insurgents have been smoked out.

He however advised that the war was not that of the military alone but all Nigerians who must give information that would finally put an end to the insurgency.

He added that once a territory was retrieved from the insurgents, it was left for the civil authorities to occupy and stop the insurgents from sneaking back,

He said most of the areas that were hitherto in the hands of the insurgents were now retrieved and were inhabitable to members of the public

Abubakar said: "We have started sending our engineers to repair all the destroyed bridges. Already our engineers have started reconstructing the destroyed bridges along Gamboru-Ngala- Maiduguri, Gombi- Garkida- Biu roads among others and very soon the menace of Boko Haram will be over, but this can never be achieved without the full cooperation of the media and the general public.
"The fight against insurgents/ terrorists is a collective responsibility and all hands must be on deck to nip terrorism in the bud".

The Army chief further revealed that a major disaster was averted in Maiduguri during the Sallah as a terrorist who had planned to plant a bomb in one of the mosques was apprehended on the eve of Eid-el-Kabir.

He said the troops of the 7 Division apprehended a suspected terrorist who went to Medinatu Central Mosque in old Maiduguri with intent to plant an Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in order to cause havoc on the Sallah day.

He said the apprehended terrorist was undergoing interrogation and was now helping the security agencies on vital information that would lead to the arrest of some other culprits especially those responsible for Sunday's multiple attacks on Maiduguri where 54 persons were confirmed dead,

Primary  Source

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/security-agencies-foil-attempt-to-free-boko-haram-detainees-in-lokoja/221204/

"You Left Me Vulnerable" Saraki to Kwara Governor

Senate President Bukola Saraki, who was stoned yesterday with rocks and water sachets by an irate mob at the Eid Prayer Grounds in Ilorin, Kwara State, has accused Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of leaving him vulnerable and open to attack, an aide of the governor has told SaharaReporters. Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State

Our source added that Governor Ahmed confided in aides and the traditional ruler of Ilorin that the Senate President made himself the target of furious crowd because he failed to listen to security reports and advice urging him to stay away from Ilorin during the Sallah holiday.

A security source corroborated the governor’s sentiment. According to him, security agencies in the state had been aware of public anger against the governor and Mr. Saraki, especially as information circulated among residents about the size of the senator’s assets and personal wealth. He added that many people in the state, among them unemployed youth and workers who are owed arrears of salaries, felt that the Saraki family had exploited them for years. 

A reporter in the state also told SaharaReporters that rumors circulated widely that Governor Ahmed had given Mr. Saraki N1 billion from Federal bailout funds meant to clear several months of salary arrears to workers. “Whether it’s true or not, the rumors were making the rounds. And they made many people incensed against the governor and Senator Saraki,” the reporter said. 

Other sources in the state disclosed that a few local imams (Islamic preachers), shocked by media reports about Mr. Saraki’s obscene wealth, revealed in his past asset declarations, preached about the senator’s greed.

“Once we heard what the preachers were saying in mosques, we warned the governor [Ahmed] to avoid any public outing as it was clear that people [were] angry and waiting to attack him and his godfather, former Governor Saraki,” one of our security sources said.

He added that, days before the Sallah festivities, security agents had seen piles of stones hidden in drainages around the prayer ground, and told the governor about it.

An aide of the governor told SaharaReporters that Governor Ahmed, in turn, communicated his concerns to Mr. Saraki in Abuja. “But Senator Saraki continued to feel that he was popular in Kwara State, especially in Ilorin,” said the governor’s aide. “He would not agree to exercise caution because he wanted to show his popularity after his ego was bruised at the Code of Conduct Bureau,” the aide added. Mr. Saraki was last week arraigned at a tribunal for false declaration of assets.

Ignoring all security warnings, the Senate President reportedly ordered the governor to arrange a series of high profile events for him in the state capital. The events proposed by the embattled senator included meet and greet at the Ilorin Airport on his arrival in the state. 

A few days before Senator Saraki’s arrival, the airwaves were saturated with radio announcements calling on politicians and civil servants in the state to welcome the former governor at the airport. In the end, the event was abruptly canceled when security agencies warned that protesters were planning to launch an attack on Mr. Saraki at the airport.

SaharaReporters learned that, a night before the Sallah prayers, Governor Ahmed told Senator Saraki that he would not attend Eid prayers at the Ilorin praying grounds on account of adverse security reports. But Mr. Saraki was not deterred, said our sources. Instead, he ordered his aides to scout the length and breadth of Ilorin and surrounding towns in order to mobilize a huge crowd to show up and sing his praises at the prayer grounds.

On Sallah, Governor Ahmed headed for his hometown, avoiding showing up in Ilorin. 

Meanwhile, Mr. Saraki arrived at the venue where he was initially serenaded by a retinue of hired praise singers. However, shortly after the formal prayer events started, with the Chief Imam presiding, and the Emir of Ilorin, Sulu Gambari, next to him, protesters started shouting “Ole! Ole!” (meaning thief in Yoruba). Pandemonium soon ensued as the angry crowd began hurling rocks at the VIP tent. Prayers were aborted as Mr. Saraki and a coterie of other religious and political officials were smuggled out of the prayer grounds. The police, army and civil defense agents had a hectic time clearing the way for the dignitaries to escape. Several eyewitnesses disclosed that the security agents fired teargas and live bullets to scare the rampaging protesters.

In a public relations stunt, Senator Saraki quickly arranged a short press conference where some hired youth chanted his praise  in the background as he spoke for a minute or two before he fled. 

Our source, who is an aide of the governor, told SaharaReporters that Mr. Saraki was also displeased with the governor’s media team for issuing a statement condemning the attack on Senator Saraki and other VIPs. The embattled Senator Saraki felt that the statement undermined his earlier denial that he was not the target of the stone-throwing protesters. 

Mr. Saraki had handpicked Mr. Ahmed to succeed him as the governor of Kwara State. State workers are being owed salaries for the last five months, a development that is seen as the result of Mr. Saraki’s financial mismanagement during his eight-year stint as state governor. 

Primary Source
http://saharareporters.com/2015/09/25/ilorin-attack-saraki-upset-kwara-governor-who-responds