Security operatives probing politicians with B’Haram links – FG

Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Chris Olukolade

Security operatives have begun quizzing politicians found to have links with the dreaded terror group, Boko Haram.

This followed materials found in a Boko Haram camp that linked the politicians with some insurgents in Bauchi where security operatives had dislodged some terrorists from a hideout in Bauchi State last week.

The National Coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri, disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday at a press conference also addressed by the Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, the Police Public Relations Officer, ACP Frank Mbah, and the Deputy Director, Public Relations, Department of State Security Services, Mrs. Marylyn Ogar.

Omeri said, “After the last successful operations carried out by security forces to dislodge terrorists from their forest bases in the Darazo Local Government Area end of the Balmo Forest, some politicians are currently being investigated following their link with activities in the forest.

“The politicians are being interrogated following the recovery of some sensitive registration cards and other materials of a prominent political party that were found in the possession of some of the suspects arrested.

“Investigation is still ongoing to further unravel the identity of others that may have been involved and as soon as it is completed, we shall reveal the names of the culprits and the political party.

“Accordingly, we wish to emphasise that the government, particularly the security agencies will not condone the involvement of politicians in security matters.”

The Federal Government also drew attention of Nigerians to alleged online media publications targeted at fuelling separatist agitations in certain parts of the country.

Omeri said, “These publications, to say the least, can only succeed in sowing the seeds of hatred, rancour and confusion among peace-loving Nigerians.

“We, therefore, call on Nigerians, wherever they may find themselves, to ignore the obnoxious publications by some misguided elements, who are bent on truncating the democratic process which the present administration is striving to nurture. The unity of Nigeria is not negotiable.”

Answering a question, Ogar said the BringBackOurGirls campaign had become a franchise insisting on tags and proper registration instead of a movement whose purpose was to bring pressure on the government to act for the safety of the schoolgirls abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State on April 14.

She said, “Security forces also know that they have bank accounts. We also know that they want to go to Asokoro Extension and simulate some false movement when they have foreign media to say that they are marching into Sambisa and Chibok.

“We also know that they brought in some experts from outside the country to come and teach them how to beat security operations when they are demonstrating. We are waiting to see whether those things will work.

“We also know that they have divided themselves into groups and zones; giving each of them specific assignments. When the late Funmi Ransome-Kuti started her movement for women rights, I am not sure they paid courtesy calls to moneybags to solicit support.

“If she had to do that, I am not sure the late Oba Ademola II would have been dethroned in 1949 when he was asking women to pay taxes. When there is a genuine struggle, then it must be done transparently. There will be no need for you to ask people to register so that you know who is a member and who is not and to pay monthly dues.

“It is getting very ridiculous but we are still watching. And we hope that genuinely, you don’t go to hire people to come and claim parenthood of a child that they did not give birth to. So, it is a franchise and we know.

“As for security forces, we are working to ensure that the schoolgirls are brought back safely.”

In another development, workers at the old Secretariat, Area one, Abuja, may be at risk of a terrorist attack on account of the porous security at the expansive complex which housed many ministries, departments and agencies.

PUNCH