Unknown
gunmen kidnapped seven foreigners and killed a security guard when they stormed
the compound of Lebanese construction company SETRACO in Bauchi yesterday
morning.
gunmen kidnapped seven foreigners and killed a security guard when they stormed
the compound of Lebanese construction company SETRACO in Bauchi yesterday
morning.
Among
those abducted were a Briton, an Italian, a Greek and four Lebanese workers,
including two women, Local Government Chairman Adamu Aliyu and security sources
said.
those abducted were a Briton, an Italian, a Greek and four Lebanese workers,
including two women, Local Government Chairman Adamu Aliyu and security sources
said.
It was
the worst case of foreigners being kidnapped in the North since an insurgency
by Islamist militants intensified nearly two years ago.
the worst case of foreigners being kidnapped in the North since an insurgency
by Islamist militants intensified nearly two years ago.
No one
took responsibility for the attacks and kidnappings have been linked to Boko
Haram and another Islamist group – Al Qaeda-aligned group Ansaru – which rose
to prominence recently. The group claimed responsibility for the kidnap in
December of a French national, who is still missing.
took responsibility for the attacks and kidnappings have been linked to Boko
Haram and another Islamist group – Al Qaeda-aligned group Ansaru – which rose
to prominence recently. The group claimed responsibility for the kidnap in
December of a French national, who is still missing.
Bauchi
Police Chief Mohammed Ladan said the gunmen attacked a police station and a
prison overnight before storming the construction firm’s compound in Jama’are,
a Bauchi State town.
Police Chief Mohammed Ladan said the gunmen attacked a police station and a
prison overnight before storming the construction firm’s compound in Jama’are,
a Bauchi State town.
“We
repelled the attack on the police station and the security men at the prison
yard also repelled the attack, but they burnt two vehicles in Jama’are police
station,” Ladan said.
repelled the attack on the police station and the security men at the prison
yard also repelled the attack, but they burnt two vehicles in Jama’are police
station,” Ladan said.
“They
then attacked Setraco construction, killed a local security guard and they
succeeded in kidnapping people,” he said and declined to state the nationality
of the victims.
then attacked Setraco construction, killed a local security guard and they
succeeded in kidnapping people,” he said and declined to state the nationality
of the victims.
The
Italian and Greek foreign ministries confirmed that one of their nationals was
taken in the raid. A spokesman for the British Embassy in Abuja said it was
investigating.
Italian and Greek foreign ministries confirmed that one of their nationals was
taken in the raid. A spokesman for the British Embassy in Abuja said it was
investigating.
Islamist
group Ansaru’s full name is Jama’atu Ansarul Musilimina Fi Biladis Sudan, which
roughly translates as “Vanguards for the Protection of Muslims in Black
Africa”.
group Ansaru’s full name is Jama’atu Ansarul Musilimina Fi Biladis Sudan, which
roughly translates as “Vanguards for the Protection of Muslims in Black
Africa”.
It
claimed responsibility for a dawn raid on a major police station in Abuja last
year, where it said hundreds of prisoners were released. Last month in Kogi
State, it attacked a convoy of Nigerian troops en route to deployment in Mali.
claimed responsibility for a dawn raid on a major police station in Abuja last
year, where it said hundreds of prisoners were released. Last month in Kogi
State, it attacked a convoy of Nigerian troops en route to deployment in Mali.
The
group said the abduction of the Frenchman last year was motivated by France’s
ban of the full-face veil and its military intervention against Islamist
insurgents in Mali.
group said the abduction of the Frenchman last year was motivated by France’s
ban of the full-face veil and its military intervention against Islamist
insurgents in Mali.
Kidnapping
of foreigners for ransom has been common in the Southsouth for years but
abductions by radical Islamists in the North began only last year.
of foreigners for ransom has been common in the Southsouth for years but
abductions by radical Islamists in the North began only last year.
Britain
in November put Ansaru on its official “terrorist group” list, saying it was
aligned with al Qaeda and was behind the kidnap of a British and a Italian
killed last year during a failed rescue attempt.
in November put Ansaru on its official “terrorist group” list, saying it was
aligned with al Qaeda and was behind the kidnap of a British and a Italian
killed last year during a failed rescue attempt.
Ansaru
is thought to have loose ties to Boko Haram (Western Education is a sin), which
has killed hundreds during a three-year-long insurgency focused mostly on
Nigerian security forces, religious targets and politicians, rather than
foreigners.
is thought to have loose ties to Boko Haram (Western Education is a sin), which
has killed hundreds during a three-year-long insurgency focused mostly on
Nigerian security forces, religious targets and politicians, rather than
foreigners.
Boko
Haram wants to carve out an Islamic state in Nigeria.
Haram wants to carve out an Islamic state in Nigeria.
President
Goodluck Jonathan has repeatedly said that the military are winning the battle
against what he calls “terrorism” in northern Nigeria.
Goodluck Jonathan has repeatedly said that the military are winning the battle
against what he calls “terrorism” in northern Nigeria.
But
Western governments are increasingly concerned about Islamists in Nigeria
linking up with groups outside the region, including al Qaeda’s North African
wing AQIM.
Western governments are increasingly concerned about Islamists in Nigeria
linking up with groups outside the region, including al Qaeda’s North African
wing AQIM.
President
of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria
(AISSON), Dr. Ona Ekhomu urged the Federal Government to urgently commit law enforcement,
intelligence and counter-terrorism resources in locating and safely rescuing
the seven kidnapped foreign workers.
of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria
(AISSON), Dr. Ona Ekhomu urged the Federal Government to urgently commit law enforcement,
intelligence and counter-terrorism resources in locating and safely rescuing
the seven kidnapped foreign workers.
Ekhomu
said the international community was waiting to see how the Nigerian
authorities will resolve the kidnap crisis. He said the Bauchi kidnap incident
was unfortunate as several nationalities were involved. “Our foreign partners
are counting on the Nigerian security infrastructure to keep their citizens
safe while they are in Nigeria. Therefore no security resource should be spared
in the prompt and safe release of the foreign kidnap victims.”
said the international community was waiting to see how the Nigerian
authorities will resolve the kidnap crisis. He said the Bauchi kidnap incident
was unfortunate as several nationalities were involved. “Our foreign partners
are counting on the Nigerian security infrastructure to keep their citizens
safe while they are in Nigeria. Therefore no security resource should be spared
in the prompt and safe release of the foreign kidnap victims.”
The
internationally-renowned security expert said the kidnap operation was
apparently executed by Boko Haram in consultation with Al Qaeda in the Islamic
Maghreb (AQIM).. He said: “the security breach must be understood in the
context of Nigeria’s military action in Mali. The kidnap saga is meant to teach
us a lesson for sending troops to Mali. This action is obviously one of those
backlashes that we have anticipated will follow in the wake of Nigeria’s
military action in Mali.”
internationally-renowned security expert said the kidnap operation was
apparently executed by Boko Haram in consultation with Al Qaeda in the Islamic
Maghreb (AQIM).. He said: “the security breach must be understood in the
context of Nigeria’s military action in Mali. The kidnap saga is meant to teach
us a lesson for sending troops to Mali. This action is obviously one of those
backlashes that we have anticipated will follow in the wake of Nigeria’s
military action in Mali.”
Source: The Nation
