Chiefs of the nation’s security agencies were in
panic mode on Wednesday following shocking revelations by the co-founder
of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, a.k.a Boko Haram,
Aliyu Tishau.
A source in the Presidency told one of our correspondents that the information that Tishua claimed to have given to the police was not made available to other security agencies. The source, who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the case, said the National Security Adviser’s office and the State Security Service were not informed about the warnings. He added that the non-disclosure of the advance warnings ensured that the Presidency couldn’t act to prevent the bombings.
The source, a senior Presidency official, spoke against the background of criticisms that have trailed the accusations of negligence levelled against the government by the Boko Haram leader.
Tishau on Tuesday on an African Independent Televison interview programme, said that he had warned the police authorities about some bombings before they took place. The warnings, which he said were often specific, were ignored.
He also alleged that he had informed the police authorities about the planned bombing of the force headquarters three days before the incident, stressing that the terror attacks were caused by the negligence of the government and security agencies.
Tishau had said, “Three days before the attack, I warned the police that there would be an attack in Abuja that would embarrass the security authorities. Also, after the bombing of the police headquarters, I was summoned before the IGP and given a GSM phone. I called the person who planned and led the attack and we spoke right in front of the IGP. So, all these terror attacks are caused by the negligence of government.
“When I gave my advice, the police chased, arrested me, and kept me in detention. Before I was detained, I gave the police the video recordings of how some of how our members were being given military training, but the IGP ordered that I should be detained. I was left in detention for 10 months.
“But those things that I warned about are playing out today. While I was in detention, I was in contact with our people and I still gave forewarnings to the authorities about attacks. I even told them beforehand whenever an operation was to take place. The bombing of the police headquarters had been planned and on many occasions and I had always told them in advance.”
Our correspondents learnt that the nation’s security chiefs were worried that President Goodluck Jonathan would take drastic actions as a result of the revelations. Watchers say that the claims that the police had enough information to stop the attacks meant that proactive actions could have led to a reduction in the number of lives lost and the damage done.
A senior intelligence officer who spoke to our correspondent confirmed the anxiety among the security agencies. He said, “There is fear among the top security chiefs over the revelations made by the Boko Haram leader. Tishau said he had given advance warnings of bomb explosions to the security agencies. I can tell you that they did not pass this intelligence to the National Security Adviser. The President is not aware of these things.
“Now that it has come to light, President Jonathan won’t treat the issues with levity. The security chiefs concerned have some explanations to do, I can assure you.”
The source in the Presidency said that President Goodluck Jonathan, currently in New York for the 66th UN General Assembly meeting, had been apprised of the revelations by the Boko Haram leader.
“The President is obviously unhappy about the development and he is likely to announce some radical measures when he comes back,” the source said.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Sola Amore, could not be reached for comments as he did not respond to our correspondents’ repeated calls and text messages.
However, a senior police officer said the police management was studying the Boko Haram co-founder’s interview and would respond at the appropriate time.
“We have noted the allegations and we are studying them for now, but we will react at the appropriate time,” he said. The SSS Assistant Director, Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar, could also not be reached as her phone was switched off as at 6.18 pm.
Meanwhile, the ACF said that the revelations had once again confirmed the “leadership failure in the country.” National Public Secretary of the organisation, Mr. Anthony Sani, challenged all the governors accused by Tishau to defend themselves.
The Boko Haram leader had said, “For instance, in Borno State, the governor sponsors a group of armed youths known as ECOMOG. It is this ECOMOG that he looks after, above the police, SSS and other security agencies. In Gombe State, the governor has the Kalari. I was once contacted by a governorship candidate to kill an opponent for a fee. The security agencies know what I am telling you.
“In Bauchi there is the Tarafuka, an armed group sponsored by the government, and the government watches on, even when we have the SSS and police. That is why our new leader, Mallam Abubakar Shekau, is calling on the youths to disregard all governments in the country – a call that has brought him and the group into conflict with the government. Some politicians are now taking the advantage of the conflict between the Boko Haram leadership and the authorities to execute their own agenda.”
Sani said, “The insecurity that comes with violence is attributed to poverty and immorality that are traced to failure of leadership, which is currently in the hands of politicians. If Boko Haram could accuse governors, then the said governors should defend themselves.”
On the conditions given by the group, he said, “The ACF would like to note that no sacrifice is too much in order to attain the needed peace and national security that are good for all.”
By Adelani Adepegba and Segun Olatunji Courtesy Of: Punch
A source in the Presidency told one of our correspondents that the information that Tishua claimed to have given to the police was not made available to other security agencies. The source, who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the case, said the National Security Adviser’s office and the State Security Service were not informed about the warnings. He added that the non-disclosure of the advance warnings ensured that the Presidency couldn’t act to prevent the bombings.
The source, a senior Presidency official, spoke against the background of criticisms that have trailed the accusations of negligence levelled against the government by the Boko Haram leader.
Tishau on Tuesday on an African Independent Televison interview programme, said that he had warned the police authorities about some bombings before they took place. The warnings, which he said were often specific, were ignored.
He also alleged that he had informed the police authorities about the planned bombing of the force headquarters three days before the incident, stressing that the terror attacks were caused by the negligence of the government and security agencies.
Tishau had said, “Three days before the attack, I warned the police that there would be an attack in Abuja that would embarrass the security authorities. Also, after the bombing of the police headquarters, I was summoned before the IGP and given a GSM phone. I called the person who planned and led the attack and we spoke right in front of the IGP. So, all these terror attacks are caused by the negligence of government.
“When I gave my advice, the police chased, arrested me, and kept me in detention. Before I was detained, I gave the police the video recordings of how some of how our members were being given military training, but the IGP ordered that I should be detained. I was left in detention for 10 months.
“But those things that I warned about are playing out today. While I was in detention, I was in contact with our people and I still gave forewarnings to the authorities about attacks. I even told them beforehand whenever an operation was to take place. The bombing of the police headquarters had been planned and on many occasions and I had always told them in advance.”
Our correspondents learnt that the nation’s security chiefs were worried that President Goodluck Jonathan would take drastic actions as a result of the revelations. Watchers say that the claims that the police had enough information to stop the attacks meant that proactive actions could have led to a reduction in the number of lives lost and the damage done.
A senior intelligence officer who spoke to our correspondent confirmed the anxiety among the security agencies. He said, “There is fear among the top security chiefs over the revelations made by the Boko Haram leader. Tishau said he had given advance warnings of bomb explosions to the security agencies. I can tell you that they did not pass this intelligence to the National Security Adviser. The President is not aware of these things.
“Now that it has come to light, President Jonathan won’t treat the issues with levity. The security chiefs concerned have some explanations to do, I can assure you.”
The source in the Presidency said that President Goodluck Jonathan, currently in New York for the 66th UN General Assembly meeting, had been apprised of the revelations by the Boko Haram leader.
“The President is obviously unhappy about the development and he is likely to announce some radical measures when he comes back,” the source said.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Sola Amore, could not be reached for comments as he did not respond to our correspondents’ repeated calls and text messages.
However, a senior police officer said the police management was studying the Boko Haram co-founder’s interview and would respond at the appropriate time.
“We have noted the allegations and we are studying them for now, but we will react at the appropriate time,” he said. The SSS Assistant Director, Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar, could also not be reached as her phone was switched off as at 6.18 pm.
Meanwhile, the ACF said that the revelations had once again confirmed the “leadership failure in the country.” National Public Secretary of the organisation, Mr. Anthony Sani, challenged all the governors accused by Tishau to defend themselves.
The Boko Haram leader had said, “For instance, in Borno State, the governor sponsors a group of armed youths known as ECOMOG. It is this ECOMOG that he looks after, above the police, SSS and other security agencies. In Gombe State, the governor has the Kalari. I was once contacted by a governorship candidate to kill an opponent for a fee. The security agencies know what I am telling you.
“In Bauchi there is the Tarafuka, an armed group sponsored by the government, and the government watches on, even when we have the SSS and police. That is why our new leader, Mallam Abubakar Shekau, is calling on the youths to disregard all governments in the country – a call that has brought him and the group into conflict with the government. Some politicians are now taking the advantage of the conflict between the Boko Haram leadership and the authorities to execute their own agenda.”
Sani said, “The insecurity that comes with violence is attributed to poverty and immorality that are traced to failure of leadership, which is currently in the hands of politicians. If Boko Haram could accuse governors, then the said governors should defend themselves.”
On the conditions given by the group, he said, “The ACF would like to note that no sacrifice is too much in order to attain the needed peace and national security that are good for all.”
By Adelani Adepegba and Segun Olatunji Courtesy Of: Punch
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