Terrorism: Security chiefs under watch

AMIDST reports of unconfirmed insider involvement in recent terror attacks, security chiefs holding positions in Northern locations are now reportedly under surveillance as part of new counter-terror options.

Sambo Dasuki

A top security handler hinted Sunday Tribune that recent events in some security establishments located in the Northern part of the country necessitated the new measure which he described as “highly confidential.”
“It is sensitive, but a decision taken to safeguard the nation. The watchman is now under watch, “the source said, describing the measure as “part of new anti-terror measures now being adopted by nations facing multiple terror threats.“
Sunday Tribune was told that the new surveillance measure was taken as a result of what the source called “perceived security breach carried out by disgruntled elements in Northern formations.”
It was revealed that the penetration of some security formations in the North may have been with active connivance of some insiders, a development said to have created anxiety within the government.
Further checks showed that some operatives felt badly treated after the takeover of the Presidency, following the death of former President Umaru Yar‘Adua, while others are said to be sympathetic to the push of the North for Presidency in 2015.
It was learnt that some officers, while remaining loyal to the new leaders, still felt marginalised with bad postings without efforts at rehabilitation, more than two years after the Jonathan Presidency began.
The new measure, Sunday Tribune was told, is linked with the bombings at Jaji, where it was alleged that operatives relocated from the State House after Yar‘Adua’s death were fingered.
The affected officers were said to belong to Brigade of Guards during the reign of the late president‘s and were dispersed around Northern formations for strategic reasons.
Meanwhile, the security situation in the Northern region may become complicated with reports indicating that Islamists from Northern Mali have activated their Nigerian cells for kidnapping of Westerners in Nigeria.
According to a report carried by a Sahel news site, Magrebia, Al-Qaeda in the Magreb has decided to target Northern Nigeria, due to the high presence of Europeans and other Westerners in many Northern cities.
The Islamists are said to be determined to punish Westerners, due to the push for military intervention in Northern Mali.
The news site does not, however, link the kidnap of a Frenchman in Katsina recently to the new development.

Tribune