UN House Blast: Why Has FG Refused To Inform UN Of Suspects’ Arrest?

The United Nations said yesterday that Nigerian Security Agencies had not officially informed the world body about the arrest of suspects in the bombing of its Abuja office last week. The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Daouda Toure who addressed the press in Abuja said the body was committed to ensuring that those behind the dastardly act were brought to book.

The Department of State Services, Wednesday disclosed that it arrested two suspects in the Abuja bombing while one of the alleged master minds was declared wanted by the security agency.

But addressing a press conference yesterday, Mr Toure said "Officially, let me tell you the UN has not been informed about any arrest of any sort nor the identity of those that have been arrested. Therefore, you can understand that I cannot comment on that."

Giving further update on the bomb blast, the Resident Coordinator said 14 persons that were hitherto on life support following the bomb blast at various hospitals in Abuja had been evacuated to South Africa, adding that necessary measures have been put in place to facilitate the movement of family members of the injured to South Africa.



Sect reveals identity of suicide bomber

Spokesman of Boko Haram, Abul Qaqa yesterday revealed the identity of the suicide bomber who drove the vehicle that hit the UN house saying he was a 27 year-old Nigerian named Mohammed Abul Barra.

In a brief telephone interview with the CNN arranged by an intermediary, Boko Haram spokesman said

the group bombed the U.N. offices in Abuja last week because the world body was a partner "in the oppression of believers". According to him, "all over the world, the U.N. is a global partner in the oppression of believers. We are at war against infidels. In Nigeria, the federal government tries to perpetuate the agenda of the United Nations."

Though a Nigerian engineer was among the dead, Qaqa said the group did not intend to kill the man. He told CNN, however that, "We have told everyone that the U.N. is the bastion of the global oppression of Muslims all over the world. As such, we have warned everyone to steer clear of such places. They should steer clear of such places that we have mentioned in the past. The battle has changed."

Boko Haram sends 270 members for training

It was also gathered yesterday that the Islamic sect has sent 270 of its members to Yemen and Sudan for training. Security sources who have been trailing the activities of the group who revealed this added that some of the sect members who went to some African countries for training on terrorism have returned to the country. This has prompted security agencies to spread its dragnet far and wide with a view to rounding them up. Security has also been beefed up at the nation's ports

Port security source disclosed that the activities of the terrorist group has put all security agencies on the edge warning port stakeholders to be security conscious and ensure that their facilities are well secured.

Giving this warning at the 47th Port Facilities Security Officers Forum, spokesman of the forum, Mr Subaru Anataku said that these undesirable elements can go to any length to cause havoc .

Anataku said "We need to introduce a minimum screening standard, we need to let them know that it is not business as usual. The current security challenges we are currently experiencing in the country is a serious situation and we need a serious solution.

"These bombs can be concealed in the most unusual places we need to be extra careful, we need to go back to our facilities to review our procedures, clear every abandoned vehicle within and around your facilities, these terrorists always employ element of surprise.

"They just not only cause havoc, they are trained to die in the process"

He called on Port Security Officers (PSO) to commence full screening of all vehicles, trucks and persons entering any facility.

2 sect members shot

Men of "Operation Tsaro", the military outfit maintaining peace in Adamawa, yesterday in Song gunned down two motorcyclists suspected to be members of the violent Boko Haram sect.

"One of the suspects was killed instantly while the other was injured," Lt.-Col. Idachaba Idu, Public Relations Officer, 3 Armoured Division, Nigeria Army, Jos, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Thursday.

He said the suspects were armed with an AK47 rifle and two magazines loaded with 17 rounds of 7.62 calibre ammunition.

"The suspects tried to escape after firing a shot, but the soldiers from the 23 Brigade in Yola shot them down," Idu said.

Source: Vanguard