Two Nigerian affiliates of the al-Qaeda in the Islamic
Maghreb — Boko Haram and theJama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi Biladis- Sudan — are planning major reprisals to
protest Nigeria’s participation in the Mali war, SUNDAY PUNCH authoritatively reports.
Maghreb — Boko Haram and theJama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi Biladis- Sudan — are planning major reprisals to
protest Nigeria’s participation in the Mali war, SUNDAY PUNCH authoritatively reports.
Nigeria has deployed forces in
northern Mali to flush out the al-Qaeda-linked Islamist groups who have taken
control of the vast desert territory.
northern Mali to flush out the al-Qaeda-linked Islamist groups who have taken
control of the vast desert territory.
Barely 48 hours after the Mali
mission, terror operations increased in the northern part of the country with
not less four attacks in three days leading to the death of about 30 people.
mission, terror operations increased in the northern part of the country with
not less four attacks in three days leading to the death of about 30 people.
While claiming responsibility for the
attack on Mali-bound soldiers in Kogi State and the kidnap of a French citizen,
Francis Colump, in Katsina State, the sect said its actions were based on
France and Nigeria’s major role in the attack on Islamists in northern Mali.
Security agents told SUNDAY PUNCH that the sects, particularly JAMBS, planned to protest
Nigeria’s participation in the Mali war, in the form of bomb attacks and kidnap
of expatriates. It was learnt that whileJAMBS would concentrate on foreign targets,
Boko Haram would focus on local targets.
Nigeria’s participation in the Mali war, in the form of bomb attacks and kidnap
of expatriates. It was learnt that whileJAMBS would concentrate on foreign targets,
Boko Haram would focus on local targets.
A top intelligence officer, who
pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said,
“The survival of JAMBS and Boko Haram depends on the survival
of the Islamists in Mali. If the terrorists in Mali are wiped out, that is the
end of the ones in Nigeria and that is why Nigeria is at the fore-front of the
Mali war.
pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said,
“The survival of JAMBS and Boko Haram depends on the survival
of the Islamists in Mali. If the terrorists in Mali are wiped out, that is the
end of the ones in Nigeria and that is why Nigeria is at the fore-front of the
Mali war.
“We have reports that the violent
sects here have been instructed to increase their terror acts and it is not
surprising. That is why they have become very restive in the North. We are at
the border to intercept whatever arms they are planning to bring in. We also
have plain-clothes security men in the North monitoring activities. We are
ready for them.”
sects here have been instructed to increase their terror acts and it is not
surprising. That is why they have become very restive in the North. We are at
the border to intercept whatever arms they are planning to bring in. We also
have plain-clothes security men in the North monitoring activities. We are
ready for them.”
The Deputy Public Relations Officer
of the police, Frank Mba, told SUNDAY
PUNCH that the police were
aware of the “plans” of the sects, but he declined to provide details. Mba
stated that the war in Mali was necessary to put an end to terrorism in that
country.
of the police, Frank Mba, told SUNDAY
PUNCH that the police were
aware of the “plans” of the sects, but he declined to provide details. Mba
stated that the war in Mali was necessary to put an end to terrorism in that
country.
“All the terror groups in Nigeria
receive major financing and training from Mali and it is expected that they
will not be pleased with the war. They get support from Mali and we know they
are not happy we are with the war, but Nigerians cannot to be held hostage. We
are ready for them. We owe Nigerians a duty to be in Mali to totally eradicate
terrorism from Nigeria,” he said.
receive major financing and training from Mali and it is expected that they
will not be pleased with the war. They get support from Mali and we know they
are not happy we are with the war, but Nigerians cannot to be held hostage. We
are ready for them. We owe Nigerians a duty to be in Mali to totally eradicate
terrorism from Nigeria,” he said.
Similarly, the President of the
Northern Civil Society Coalition, Mr. Shehu Sani, stated that the war in Mali
posed a security challenge because JAMBS and other sects that are sympathetic
to Malian Islamists would target countries that contributed troops to the
multinational force battling Islamists in the country.
Northern Civil Society Coalition, Mr. Shehu Sani, stated that the war in Mali
posed a security challenge because JAMBS and other sects that are sympathetic
to Malian Islamists would target countries that contributed troops to the
multinational force battling Islamists in the country.
“Nigeria has to cover its tracks at
home. We are vulnerable to reprisals. There is no doubt that terrorists in Mali
will inflict damage on countries participating in the war,” he said.
home. We are vulnerable to reprisals. There is no doubt that terrorists in Mali
will inflict damage on countries participating in the war,” he said.
Meanwhile, JAMBS, has launched a massive
recruitment drive in the North. Reliable sources in the security services told
one of our correspondents that the sect aimed to be “bigger and deadlier” than
the better known Boko Haram sect.
recruitment drive in the North. Reliable sources in the security services told
one of our correspondents that the sect aimed to be “bigger and deadlier” than
the better known Boko Haram sect.
In recent times, JAMBS, which has been described
as an international terror group, has claimed responsibility for some
headline-grabbing terrorist acts. It was learnt that the ongoing
recruitment by the sect, targets young persons, mainly men, indoctrinated to
fight for the cause of the sect.
as an international terror group, has claimed responsibility for some
headline-grabbing terrorist acts. It was learnt that the ongoing
recruitment by the sect, targets young persons, mainly men, indoctrinated to
fight for the cause of the sect.
Even though the recruitment is
restricted to the North for now, SUNDAYPUNCH gathered that the sect had plans to
stretch its search for recruits to other parts of the country.
restricted to the North for now, SUNDAYPUNCH gathered that the sect had plans to
stretch its search for recruits to other parts of the country.
Sani said JAMBS was more dangerous than Boko Haram and
that “foreign interests have much to fear from the new group.”
that “foreign interests have much to fear from the new group.”
“JAMBS is in competition with Boko Haram and
it won’t be difficult for them to get recruits in a society of millions of
disenfranchised youths. It will be easy for them to get volunteers from the
lower rung of the society. Its agenda is different from Boko Haram’s. The group
is strictly toeing the instructions of the al-Qaeda which is to target foreign
groups and persons.
it won’t be difficult for them to get recruits in a society of millions of
disenfranchised youths. It will be easy for them to get volunteers from the
lower rung of the society. Its agenda is different from Boko Haram’s. The group
is strictly toeing the instructions of the al-Qaeda which is to target foreign
groups and persons.
“What makes this group very dangerous
is their mobility. You cannot say this is where they are located. They operate
a mobile command and no part of Nigeria is immune to their acts. If they can
attack troops in Kogi, that tells you the nature of the group.
is their mobility. You cannot say this is where they are located. They operate
a mobile command and no part of Nigeria is immune to their acts. If they can
attack troops in Kogi, that tells you the nature of the group.
“It is difficult to estimate their
actual number because they are not in a particular position, but I can tell you
that they have high capacity to inflict lethal damage and to also carry our
operations without being caught.” he said
actual number because they are not in a particular position, but I can tell you
that they have high capacity to inflict lethal damage and to also carry our
operations without being caught.” he said
Sani said the sect was not interested
in “local matters” like Boko Haram.
in “local matters” like Boko Haram.
“The Federal Government needs to know
that this new group is interested in issues of global significance like events
happening in Mali, the Middle East and in the Maghreb. The kidnapping of
expatriates is an indication of what this group is about. They have a clear
intention to pursue the agenda of the al-Qaeda. They are charting a new course
beyond the shores of Nigeria,” he added.
that this new group is interested in issues of global significance like events
happening in Mali, the Middle East and in the Maghreb. The kidnapping of
expatriates is an indication of what this group is about. They have a clear
intention to pursue the agenda of the al-Qaeda. They are charting a new course
beyond the shores of Nigeria,” he added.
Mba however said it would be
difficult for the sect to have a base in the North.
difficult for the sect to have a base in the North.
“We can’t tell you what we know about JAMBS. But it is important that
we point out that it will be difficult for them to have a base in the North due
to the heavy presence of the police and the military,” he said.
we point out that it will be difficult for them to have a base in the North due
to the heavy presence of the police and the military,” he said.
The Federal Government had said the
deployment of Nigerian troops in Mali was necessary to protect Africa from
terrorism.
deployment of Nigerian troops in Mali was necessary to protect Africa from
terrorism.
Source: Punch
