Security
agents are proceeding with utmost care in their search for the seven
expatriates abducted by terrorists in Bauchi State penultimate Saturday, it was
learnt last night.
agents are proceeding with utmost care in their search for the seven
expatriates abducted by terrorists in Bauchi State penultimate Saturday, it was
learnt last night.
The agents are keen to avoid a repeat of the loss of a Briton
and an Italian during a military operation to rescue them from kidnappers in
Sokoto on March 8, 2012.
and an Italian during a military operation to rescue them from kidnappers in
Sokoto on March 8, 2012.
Their target this time is to ensure that all the seven employees
of the construction company, SETRACO, who were seized by members of the Islamic
sect, Jama’atu Ansaril Muslimina fi Biladis Sudan (Vanguard for the Protection
of Muslims in Black Africa, or simply “Ansaru”), return home alive.
of the construction company, SETRACO, who were seized by members of the Islamic
sect, Jama’atu Ansaril Muslimina fi Biladis Sudan (Vanguard for the Protection
of Muslims in Black Africa, or simply “Ansaru”), return home alive.
In the den of the kidnappers are five Lebanese, a Briton and an
Italian.
Italian.
Sources said in Abuja that the security agencies saddled with
the task of locating and setting the hostages free have adopted a ‘tactical’ approach
to accomplishing the task without bloodshed.
the task of locating and setting the hostages free have adopted a ‘tactical’ approach
to accomplishing the task without bloodshed.
One of the sources said: “Certainly, we have got appreciable
clues but our ultimate target is to rescue the hostages alive. All hands are on
the deck to meet this target.
clues but our ultimate target is to rescue the hostages alive. All hands are on
the deck to meet this target.
“We have established that Ansaru has a link with Al-Qaeda in the
Maghreb. The group might have been hurt by the UN intervention in Mali. We are
approaching the operation from both local and end and Mali side.
Maghreb. The group might have been hurt by the UN intervention in Mali. We are
approaching the operation from both local and end and Mali side.
“We have got a marching order from the presidency to ensure that
this mission is successful. And it is also in our interest to carry out a
successful operation.”
this mission is successful. And it is also in our interest to carry out a
successful operation.”
It was also gathered that most construction firms with
expatriate workers have resolved to adopt “limited engagement” in the 19
Northern states.
expatriate workers have resolved to adopt “limited engagement” in the 19
Northern states.
This, according to one source, is based on security advice.
“We have adopted a policy of limited engagement in the North.
Apart from security beef up, we may carry out contracts only in safe states in
the region,” sources said, adding:”Virtually all construction firms in the
North have recalled their foreign expatriates until the security situation
improves.”
Apart from security beef up, we may carry out contracts only in safe states in
the region,” sources said, adding:”Virtually all construction firms in the
North have recalled their foreign expatriates until the security situation
improves.”
It was learnt that the extra security measure was put in place
on the advice of several embassies and the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO).
on the advice of several embassies and the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO).
The latest FCO advice reads in part: “The main terrorist threat
in northern Nigeria comes from Islamist extremists who aspire to establish
Islamic law in Nigeria.
in northern Nigeria comes from Islamist extremists who aspire to establish
Islamic law in Nigeria.
“The majority of attacks occur in Borno and Yobe States, but
there has been a significant increase in attacks in other Nigerian states,
mainly in the north.
there has been a significant increase in attacks in other Nigerian states,
mainly in the north.
“Attacks are mostly against Nigerian targets including
government and security institutions, police stations and places of worship,
but public places have also been targeted.
government and security institutions, police stations and places of worship,
but public places have also been targeted.
“The attack against the United Nations building in Abuja in
August 2011, which killed 23 people, shows that international and Western
interests could be targeted.”
August 2011, which killed 23 people, shows that international and Western
interests could be targeted.”
Some British aircraft are said to have arrived Nigeria bearing
security officials from London to assist their Nigerian counterparts in the
operation.
security officials from London to assist their Nigerian counterparts in the
operation.
Ansaru emerged last year motivated by an anti-Nigerian
Government and anti-Western agenda.
Government and anti-Western agenda.
It is believed to be broadly aligned with Al Qa’ida and
responsible for the murder of British national Christopher McManus and his
Italian co-worker, Franco Lamolinara, last March in Sokoto during an operation
by security personnel to free them.
responsible for the murder of British national Christopher McManus and his
Italian co-worker, Franco Lamolinara, last March in Sokoto during an operation
by security personnel to free them.
The wife of one of the guards who held the Briton and an Italian
hostage, Hauwa, said the two men were taken into a bathroom and shot dead
during the attempt to rescue them.
hostage, Hauwa, said the two men were taken into a bathroom and shot dead
during the attempt to rescue them.
Chris McManus and Italian Franco Lamolinara were kidnapped in
May 2011 while working for a construction company in Birnin Kebbi.
May 2011 while working for a construction company in Birnin Kebbi.
Hauwa said bullets flew into the room where she and her husband
were staying, killing her husband.
were staying, killing her husband.
“After that, there were about six men who came out of the house
with the two hostages,” she said. “They came into our wing of the compound,
pushed the captives into the toilet and just shot them. I screamed.”
with the two hostages,” she said. “They came into our wing of the compound,
pushed the captives into the toilet and just shot them. I screamed.”
She said she had lived in the house for four months after her
husband got a job there as a guard. But she said she never suspected anything
was wrong.
husband got a job there as a guard. But she said she never suspected anything
was wrong.
The people using the main house arrived at night and usually
left very early in the morning, she said.
left very early in the morning, she said.
Ansaru claimed responsibility for the kidnap of a French
national in Katsina State on 20 December 2012. It also claimed responsibility
for the attack on a detention facility of the police Special Anti-Robbery Squad
(SARS) in Abuja on 26 November 2012.
national in Katsina State on 20 December 2012. It also claimed responsibility
for the attack on a detention facility of the police Special Anti-Robbery Squad
(SARS) in Abuja on 26 November 2012.
Source: The
Nation
Nation
