Panic in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano
IT might take quite a while for the present wave of terror acts presently raging in the country to subside; this is in view of the readiness of the country's latest face of terror, the Boko Haram sect to carry out more attacks in the country.
Investigation has revealed that the sect which has gained unwholesome notoriety within the last two years has promised to carry out more attacks, specifically in the nation's capital territory, Abuja and some state capitals in the North, to wit: Kaduna, Kano.
The sect has also expressed its willingness to direct the attacks at notable and influential Nigerians living in these cities.
The unrepentant and deadly Nigeria's Islamic sect claimed that it has devised new strategies to detonate bombs in parts of the country, especially in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
The statement issued by the sect, reads: “This is to let the residence know that we have no device in Abuja but we are planning an attack in two weeks time. People should stay clear. Our commodores are working on a different tactics against the Nigerian state.
“Insha Allah, we will be guest in Abuja”, the terse message stated.
Findings revealed that security operatives have been placed on red-alert in Abuja and most state capitals, in a bid to counter any planned attack by the dreaded Islamic sect.
Another attack
However, whatsoever security checks put in place seemed not to be effective, as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja last Thursday evening witnessed another explosion, as three buildings, in the highbrow Maitama District were partially damaged.
In the explosion, residences of General Lawrence Onoja, a former Principal General Staff Officer (PGSO) to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha and ex-director general of the defunct National Security Organisation (NSO), Alhaji Umaru Ali Shinkafi, on Lahn Crescent, Maitama District, Abuja, were affected. The third building affected is located at No.3 of the street, which is barely 500 metres away from the official residence of the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Hafiz Ringim.
Expectedly, the incident created panic among residents and security agents within the vicinity where the official residences of some ambassadors and heads of foreign missions are also situated, as people scampered for safety amid fears that the dreaded, Boko Haram, might have struck again.
Confirming the incident, in a telephone chat, Ringim said it was an explosion and not a bomb blast. According to Ringim, “it's true that there was an explosion, but it wasn't a bomb.
What happened was that the owner of the plot had contracted a construction company to build a structure for him, and in the course of doing the job, the workers used explosives to blast stones, which caused the destruction. Police are investigating the incident to determine how they came about the explosives.”
The residence of General Onoja, who was also a former military governor of Katsina and Plateau states, red mud covered the entire compound, just as the roof of his building was partially ripped open.
Also, the front and rear windscreens of a sleek Mercedes Benz car, with registration number Abuja CF 476 ABJ, were completely shattered.
A resident, who pleaded anonymity, said the was car was parked at the periphery of the fence behind the retired army officer's residence, but was pushed to the front, close to the security post, by the impact of the blast, which occurred directly behind his building.
Investigation revealed that the worst hit was House No. 3 Lahn Crescent, which had its roof almost totally damaged.
No fewer than 10 persons were seen fixing the damaged roofs and other parts of some of the affected buildings.
General Onoja, who was seen at his residence trying to put things together, declined comments.
Basis for negotiation
These attacks are seen as an attempt by the sect to set the appropriate tone for possible negotiation with the Federal Government. The Islamist sect insisted that the release of its detained members remained the first condition for dialogue.
The pronouncement came after three people were killed in renewed attacks in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Restating its position for negotiation with government, spokesman for the sect, Abu Qaqa said in a statement, “our position remains the establishment of Shariah Law in all Muslim states in Nigeria. But as a temporary measure for peace, we will accept to talk with government only when all our members in captivity all over the states are released.”
He added that the sect had the records of its members arrested either by the police, the State Security Service (SSS) or other security agencies.
Qaqa also pointed out that the group did not have any other motive than the entrenchment of Islamic law in Nigeria.
He however, faulted the claim of the Gaji Galtimari-led Federal Government Committee on Security Challenges in the Northeast that Boko Haram is ready to dialogue with government. “We only heard the story in the media; nobody contacted us throughout the sitting of the committee.
“So, it is wrong for them to recommend dialogue with us when they did not make any effort to meet with us. The idea of appointing the Sultan of Sokoto as a mediator between us and the government is also not acceptable to us because the Sultan is not the authentic Muslim leader in Nigeria.”
Assault list
Recall that a suicide car bomber and member of the Boko Haram sect, on August 26, 2011 blew up the UN headquarters in Abuja, leaving at least 21 dead and dozens more injured among several other deadly attacks.
Earlier in Yobe state, Boko Haram fighters reportedly "used fuel-laden motorcycles" and "bows with poison arrows" to attack a police station and in January 2010, the group struck again in Borno state, killing four people in Dala Alemderi ward in Maiduguri metropolis while on September 7, 2010, Boko Haram freed over 700 inmates from a prison in Bauchi State.
In December 2010, Boko Haram were blamed for a market bombing, following which 92 of its members were arrested by police while on Friday January 28, 2011, the Borno state candidate of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) for the April 2011 gubernatorial elections was assassinated, along with his brother, four police officers and a 12-year old boy.
Meanwhile on Tuesday February 8, 2011, Boko Haram gave conditions for peace, demanding that the Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, should step down from office with immediate effect and also allow members to reclaim their mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State but on May 9, 2011 Boko Haram rejected an offer for amnesty made by the governor-elect of Borno state, Kashim Shettima.
On April 1 (the day before the original date of Nigeria's legislative elections), suspected Boko Haram members attacked a police station in Bauchi state and on April 9, a polling centre in Maiduguri was bombed while on April 15, the Maiduguri office of the Independent National Electoral Commission was bombed, and several people were shot in a separate incident on the same day.
On June 17, 2011, the group claimed responsibility for a bombing attack on the police force headquarters in Abuja that occurred the previous day, just as security officials believed that the attack was the first suicide bombing in Nigeria's history and that it specifically targeted Police Inspector-General Hafiz Ringim.
On June 26, 2011, the sect carried out a bombing attack on a beer garden in Maiduguri, according to officials and witnesses.
Militants on motorcycles threw explosives into the drinking spot, killing about 25 people and on June 27, 2011, another bombing in Maiduguri attributed to the group killed at least two girls and wounded three customs officials.
On July 10, 2011, the All Christian Fellowship Church in Suleja, Niger State was bombed, allegedly by the sect.
Dogma:
Boko Haram is opposed to, not only Western education but Western culture and modern science as well as the group forbids the wearing of shirts and pants and the act of voting in elections and believing that the Nigerian state is run by non-believers.
In a 2009, Mohammed Yusuf, then the group's leader, stated that he rejects the fact that the earth is a sphere and views it as contrary to Islam, along with Darwinism and the fact that rain comes from water evaporated by the sun.
Boko Haram, meaning "Western education is a sin" is a Nigerian Islamist group that seeks the imposition of Shariah law in the northern states of Nigeria and operating with an undefined structure and chain of command.
Its official name is Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad, which in Arabic means "People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad."
In Bauchi the group which includes members who come from neighbouring Chad and speak only in Arabic was reported as refusing to mix with the local people.
