The
State Security Service (SSS) yesterday paraded a suspected terror kingpin and
two of his lieutenants. The security agency said that the suspects were backed
by Iranian terrorist group. They had planned to site a cell in Lagos
State.Their target is the South-West where they will launch attacks and cause
unrest in the region.. SSS Deputy Director, Press, Marilyn Ogar, gave names of
the suspect as Abdulahi Mustapha Berende and his two lieutenants as Sulaiman
Olayinka Saka and Saheed Aderemi at a press conference in Abuja.
State Security Service (SSS) yesterday paraded a suspected terror kingpin and
two of his lieutenants. The security agency said that the suspects were backed
by Iranian terrorist group. They had planned to site a cell in Lagos
State.Their target is the South-West where they will launch attacks and cause
unrest in the region.. SSS Deputy Director, Press, Marilyn Ogar, gave names of
the suspect as Abdulahi Mustapha Berende and his two lieutenants as Sulaiman
Olayinka Saka and Saheed Aderemi at a press conference in Abuja.
She
said that the suspected terrorists leader had confessed that he was asked to as
a matter of urgency, provide names of prominent Nigerians who if attacked,
could unsettle the South-West. The SSS said that in his bid to satisfy his
mentors, he was said to have confessed to listing former military President,
General Ibrahim Babangida, former Sultan of Sokoto, Ibrahim Dasuki, Israeli and
American interests, as top on their list for first attack, before they were
arrested.
According
to Ogar, Berende confessed that the South-West, particularly Lagos State, was
targeted for attacks because his Iranian handlers believed that the Israelis
had an intelligence facility there that was used in spying on Iran. Berende was
also said to have confessed that, “his Iranian sponsors requested that he
identifies and gathers intelligence on public places and prominent hotels
frequented by Americans and Israelis to facilitate attacks.
to Ogar, Berende confessed that the South-West, particularly Lagos State, was
targeted for attacks because his Iranian handlers believed that the Israelis
had an intelligence facility there that was used in spying on Iran. Berende was
also said to have confessed that, “his Iranian sponsors requested that he
identifies and gathers intelligence on public places and prominent hotels
frequented by Americans and Israelis to facilitate attacks.
He was
also to provide specific details on the following organizations, USAID, Max,
Zim International Shipping Company, A A Consulting, Peace Corps and the Jewish
Cultural Centre (Chabad) in Lagos.” Ogar said while Berende initially confessed
to personally taking photographs of the Israeli Cultural Centre in Ikoyi,
Lagos, which he sent to his promoters in Iran, “his lieutenants succesfully
conducted surveillance and gathered relevant data on the listed targets
preparatory to possible attacks.” Based on their confession, Berende and his
Iranian sponsors were said to have agreed on communication codes to represent
their targets, with “Uncle”, for Israeli and “Aunt” for America.
also to provide specific details on the following organizations, USAID, Max,
Zim International Shipping Company, A A Consulting, Peace Corps and the Jewish
Cultural Centre (Chabad) in Lagos.” Ogar said while Berende initially confessed
to personally taking photographs of the Israeli Cultural Centre in Ikoyi,
Lagos, which he sent to his promoters in Iran, “his lieutenants succesfully
conducted surveillance and gathered relevant data on the listed targets
preparatory to possible attacks.” Based on their confession, Berende and his
Iranian sponsors were said to have agreed on communication codes to represent
their targets, with “Uncle”, for Israeli and “Aunt” for America.
Ogar
said that from intelligence, 50-year-old Berende, who hails from Ilorin, Kwara
State, was the Shiite leader in Ilorin and has made several suspicious trips to
and from Iran where he interracted with some Iranian elements known to operate
a high profile international terrorist network. In the course of his travels,
he was said to have attended a six-month course in modern Shi’a Islamic
teaching (Da’awa) at Imam Khomeni University, Iran, trained on the use of AK
47, assault rifle, pistols, production and detonation of Improvised Explosive
Devices (IEDs). However, Berende initially denied his involvement. He told
reporters “I am not a terrorist, I don’t operate with any terrorist group in
the world.
said that from intelligence, 50-year-old Berende, who hails from Ilorin, Kwara
State, was the Shiite leader in Ilorin and has made several suspicious trips to
and from Iran where he interracted with some Iranian elements known to operate
a high profile international terrorist network. In the course of his travels,
he was said to have attended a six-month course in modern Shi’a Islamic
teaching (Da’awa) at Imam Khomeni University, Iran, trained on the use of AK
47, assault rifle, pistols, production and detonation of Improvised Explosive
Devices (IEDs). However, Berende initially denied his involvement. He told
reporters “I am not a terrorist, I don’t operate with any terrorist group in
the world.
” But
unable to sustain his argument, he became very emotional, confirming the
positions of the SSS from his said confessions, saying, “I never meant to
betray my country, I was planning to do genuine business with these people, I
realize that they were playing me games”, as he apologised, asking Nigerians,
government and his family to forgive him for causing them such embarrassment.
unable to sustain his argument, he became very emotional, confirming the
positions of the SSS from his said confessions, saying, “I never meant to
betray my country, I was planning to do genuine business with these people, I
realize that they were playing me games”, as he apologised, asking Nigerians,
government and his family to forgive him for causing them such embarrassment.
Source: Sun
