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Suspects targeted 16 landmarks for attacks
Suspects targeted 16 landmarks for attacks
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Security agencies on red alert
Security agencies on red alert
A raid carried out by security agents last Thursday on Ijora
Badia, a Lagos neighbourhood, may have saved the nation’s commercial capital
from possible multiple attacks by terrorists, THISDAY investigations revealed
Sunday.
Badia, a Lagos neighbourhood, may have saved the nation’s commercial capital
from possible multiple attacks by terrorists, THISDAY investigations revealed
Sunday.
The raid, carried out by both operatives of the State Security Service (SSS)
and Operation Mesa (OP Mesa), a combined security outfit comprising the police
and the armed forces, led to the arrest of some suspects.
New details obtained
by THISDAY showed that contrary to the initial information from security
agencies that only two suspected Boko Haram members were arrested during the
raid, over 14 persons were nabbed and are currently in custody undergoing
interrogation.
by THISDAY showed that contrary to the initial information from security
agencies that only two suspected Boko Haram members were arrested during the
raid, over 14 persons were nabbed and are currently in custody undergoing
interrogation.
A top security source
confided in this newspaper that it was during interrogation that the security
operatives obtained details of the planned attacks on Lagos, which include the
simultaneous bombing of 16 landmarks, including public utilities that would
have exacted maximum casualties in the city.
The main target of the
terrorists, the source added, were tank farms, which contain highly inflammable
petroleum products and when bombed would aid the intensity of the explosions to
increase the death toll.
terrorists, the source added, were tank farms, which contain highly inflammable
petroleum products and when bombed would aid the intensity of the explosions to
increase the death toll.
This is the second time in one month security agents have foiled
terrorist plots to bomb targets in Lagos.
Last month, three persons said to be members of a Shiite sect were arrested in
Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. They were alleged to have plotted to attack
some Israeli and American interests in Lagos.
terrorist plots to bomb targets in Lagos.
Last month, three persons said to be members of a Shiite sect were arrested in
Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. They were alleged to have plotted to attack
some Israeli and American interests in Lagos.
The group is led by a
local Shiite leader from Ilorin, who received training in Iran in armed combat
and the use of improvised explosive devices. The group was planning attacks on the
Lagos offices of the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Haifa-based
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Limited and the Jewish Cultural Centre.
local Shiite leader from Ilorin, who received training in Iran in armed combat
and the use of improvised explosive devices. The group was planning attacks on the
Lagos offices of the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Haifa-based
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Limited and the Jewish Cultural Centre.
The source identified
one of the suspects arrested in last Thursday’s raid as the armourer of the group,
who it was gathered, had no inkling that he was surrounded before his arrest.
one of the suspects arrested in last Thursday’s raid as the armourer of the group,
who it was gathered, had no inkling that he was surrounded before his arrest.
He was said to have
been studying the Quran when the squad raided the neighbourhood and picked him
up along with others, who included suicide bombers who were said to have been
recruited to carry out the nefarious acts.
been studying the Quran when the squad raided the neighbourhood and picked him
up along with others, who included suicide bombers who were said to have been
recruited to carry out the nefarious acts.
According to the
security source, during the raid on the armourer’s apartment, the security
agents recovered a cache of arms, which included bombs and the remote controls
to be used to detonate them once they had been planted at the designated
points.
security source, during the raid on the armourer’s apartment, the security
agents recovered a cache of arms, which included bombs and the remote controls
to be used to detonate them once they had been planted at the designated
points.
The operational
vehicles arranged to transport the bombs to their designated places were also
among other items recovered during the raid.
vehicles arranged to transport the bombs to their designated places were also
among other items recovered during the raid.
THISDAY further learnt
that the arrested mastermind had planned to set up terrorist cells in Lagos
from where the terrorists would infiltrate other parts of the South-west to
recruit suicide bombers for their operations.
that the arrested mastermind had planned to set up terrorist cells in Lagos
from where the terrorists would infiltrate other parts of the South-west to
recruit suicide bombers for their operations.
Another security chief, who spoke to THISDAY on the issue,
however, allayed the fears of the public, saying timely raids would prevent
such cells from taking root.
He said: “We need to prevent them from establishing their cells in Lagos or any
other part of the country for that matter.
however, allayed the fears of the public, saying timely raids would prevent
such cells from taking root.
He said: “We need to prevent them from establishing their cells in Lagos or any
other part of the country for that matter.
“We need to nip it in
the bud because if they succeed, then there will be serious trouble in Lagos.
It beats the mind to imagine what would have happened if these men had
succeeded in bombing, for example, the Third Mainland Bridge during rush hour.
the bud because if they succeed, then there will be serious trouble in Lagos.
It beats the mind to imagine what would have happened if these men had
succeeded in bombing, for example, the Third Mainland Bridge during rush hour.
“That is why we are
calling on members of the public to feed us with information that would enable
us remain at the top of our game. You can imagine, the mastermind moved into
that compound three months ago and nobody suspected anything. We need members
of the public to always be conscious of their environment.”
calling on members of the public to feed us with information that would enable
us remain at the top of our game. You can imagine, the mastermind moved into
that compound three months ago and nobody suspected anything. We need members
of the public to always be conscious of their environment.”
It was also learnt that following the shocking discovery in the
residence of the mastermind, his neighbours promptly relocated to safer places.
Their relocation might not be unconnected with the decision by the state
government to demolish the building.
residence of the mastermind, his neighbours promptly relocated to safer places.
Their relocation might not be unconnected with the decision by the state
government to demolish the building.
Investigations further
revealed that the bomb scare prompted the authorities to check their records to
see if there was a permit for the building, which the government is now saying
was built beside a canal.
revealed that the bomb scare prompted the authorities to check their records to
see if there was a permit for the building, which the government is now saying
was built beside a canal.
According to sources,
the house from which the suspected Boko Haram leader was arrested was said to
have brought other structures in that neighbourhood to the spotlight and might
influence the government’s decision to demolish them too.
the house from which the suspected Boko Haram leader was arrested was said to
have brought other structures in that neighbourhood to the spotlight and might
influence the government’s decision to demolish them too.
Another source, a top
police officer, said last Thursday’s raid was just one of the several already
carried out by the police in preemptive strikes to check criminal elements, adding
that the proposed demolition of the building was a welcome development.
police officer, said last Thursday’s raid was just one of the several already
carried out by the police in preemptive strikes to check criminal elements, adding
that the proposed demolition of the building was a welcome development.
He said: “On several
occasions, we had carried out raids on that Ijora area because of the several
criminal elements that use the canal as a hiding place after robberies.
Ordinarily, people shouldn’t have been permitted to build their homes that
close to a canal.”
occasions, we had carried out raids on that Ijora area because of the several
criminal elements that use the canal as a hiding place after robberies.
Ordinarily, people shouldn’t have been permitted to build their homes that
close to a canal.”
He said with the
shocking revelation of the arrest, the police have tightened security in the
neighbourhood and other parts of Lagos, adding: “We are fully equipped to tackle
threats of this nature.
shocking revelation of the arrest, the police have tightened security in the
neighbourhood and other parts of Lagos, adding: “We are fully equipped to tackle
threats of this nature.
“With the information
made available on the targets, security has been beefed up already to prevent
it from happening. Lagosians should not panic but go about their activities
because we are on top of the situation.
made available on the targets, security has been beefed up already to prevent
it from happening. Lagosians should not panic but go about their activities
because we are on top of the situation.
“All the same,
Nigerians should commend the SSS which alongside OP Mesa ferreted out the
information, mounted surveillance and acted promptly.”
Nigerians should commend the SSS which alongside OP Mesa ferreted out the
information, mounted surveillance and acted promptly.”
THISDAY discovered
that as part of proactive measures aimed at arresting other members of the
group, the security agencies have engaged the services of the leaders of all
the Hausa communities in Lagos.
that as part of proactive measures aimed at arresting other members of the
group, the security agencies have engaged the services of the leaders of all
the Hausa communities in Lagos.
At a meeting with the
community leaders, including clerics, the security agencies had pleaded for
cooperation.
community leaders, including clerics, the security agencies had pleaded for
cooperation.
The security chiefs appealed to the Hausa community to report
any strange activities in their different environments, to fully investigate
the source of livelihood of new faces in their community, and report any
suspicion to the security agencies.
The Hausa community leaders were said to have expressed their preparedness to
assist security agencies in safeguarding public safety.
any strange activities in their different environments, to fully investigate
the source of livelihood of new faces in their community, and report any
suspicion to the security agencies.
The Hausa community leaders were said to have expressed their preparedness to
assist security agencies in safeguarding public safety.
The state SSS
Director, Mr. Ben Achu-Olayi, did not pick his calls or reply to a text message
sent to his phone to shed more light on the issue.
Director, Mr. Ben Achu-Olayi, did not pick his calls or reply to a text message
sent to his phone to shed more light on the issue.
However, the
spokesperson, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Colonel Kingsley Umoh, in a telephone
interview, said he would speak with the media on the issue today.
spokesperson, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Colonel Kingsley Umoh, in a telephone
interview, said he would speak with the media on the issue today.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command has tightened security in and around
the state.
THISDAY confirmed that
both uniformed and plain-clothes policemen were posted round the state to
monitor activities.
both uniformed and plain-clothes policemen were posted round the state to
monitor activities.
Places like Jakande
Estate, Isolo, Apapa, Ijora, Ikeja, Mile 2, Isolo, Okota and Oshodi, amongst
several others on the mainland as well as the Third Mainland Bridge, Falomo and
Bonny Camp were placed under strict surveillance.
Estate, Isolo, Apapa, Ijora, Ikeja, Mile 2, Isolo, Okota and Oshodi, amongst
several others on the mainland as well as the Third Mainland Bridge, Falomo and
Bonny Camp were placed under strict surveillance.
Source: Thisday
