Nigeria: Report Gives Details, Says Terrorist Groups Gaining Foothold in Nigeria

Beyond the blame game, analysts said, what is needed is a radical overhaul of the Nigerian security agencies. "First, we need to prioritize intelligence gathering, processing and utilization in our security operations.

Two, rather than see this as an avenue to make money, security agencies must intensify joint operations rather than solo efforts. Three, political leadership must not give the impression that impunity is the rule rather than the exception on this matter," Kayode Fayemi, the governor of Ekiti State, said of the measures needed to tackle the problem.

"There are too many free spaces in Nigeria with over 1,500 un-policed border entries that serve as veritable sources of nefarious external operatives with internal collaborators," Fayemi added. President Jonathan had also said that his administration is embarking on the redesign of the Nigerian security architecture in response to the new security challenge.

Last Tuesday, the President also convened a special National Council of State meeting to discuss the various security problems the country is facing. The National Council of State is a statutory body whose membership comprises the President, the Vice President, former Heads of State, Governors of the 36 states, former and incumbent Chief Justices of Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the national security adviser.

While briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, the security adviser, with unusual candor, agreed that the nation’s security forces were not prepared for the challenges they are being confronted with now. "The problem is that we were not as a nation prepared for this new level of terrorism," he had said.

He was however quick to add that the various agencies are reviewing their operations and fashioning new tactics, following the Boko Haram bombings and killings, while warning that "the security challenges are here to stay." He added that "to solve crime, sometimes, you need a national identity database. We are trying to put that together. We are talking of putting up a strategy on protection of critical national infrastructure."

He also agreed that there was need for the security agencies to improve their working relationship as well as their interface with the general public. "We agree on the use of technology and you don’t acquire those things overnight.

Issues like the registration of SIM card are properly being carried out; we talked about border control, how to help the Immigration to make sure that there is proper border control; we talked of security in maritime environment. Those issues were addressed," Azazi said of some of the key points agreed upon at the meeting.

However, some analysts have argued that there is little the country can achieve until the constitution is amended to allow for the setting up of State Police. In the same vein, it has been argued that the problem of Boko Haram cannot be solved until the socio-economic conditions that gave rise to it are addressed.

"I think we’d like to see Nigeria take a more holistic approach," said McCulley. He added that the way the uprising of the Boko Haram sect was put down in 2009 may have resulted in the present escalation.

The American Ambassador therefore suggested that the government "should address the grievances" of the northern population on economic and social matters as a way of tackling the problem of the militant group.

The 29 Aug killing in Jos was another sign of the failure of intelligence. Critics wondered why the federal government’s intelligence network did not foresee and pre-empt the attacks by fighters from the Christian and Muslim sides.

According to a critic in Jos, the attacks always follow the same pattern - assailants creep in at night and using the same weapons.

While it is good to deploy the military to Jos and other scenes of crime, this fire-brigade approach has consistently failed as was the case in Bauchi. Therefore, analysts want a proactive approach to finding solution to the crisis in Jos and other epicenters of fracas.

[Description of Source: Lagos TheNews in English - independent weekly news magazine]

Analyst Wants Vice President to Design Re-Radicalization Program for Northern Muslims

AFP20110916619001 Lagos National Daily in English 12 Sep 11 - 19 Sep 11 9

[Analysis by Nkechi Nwosu: UN: A sad smear stunt"]

As Nigeria and the rest members of the Economic Community of West African States [ECOWAS] brace to pool security strengths to stem the tide of terrorism in the sub-region and as probe of the attack on the United Nations offices in Abuja gets under way, Associate Editor NKECHI NWOSU takes a critical look at the seeming smear stunt against the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and proffers possible remedy for the saga.

That the world is increasingly becoming unsafe in spite of the giant strides in the war against terrorism by the United States and its allies, is a sad development which should give security agencies worldwide food for thought. That alien violence trait is fast pervading the continent hitherto revered for its hospitality and peace loving virtues is even more worrisome.

But the fact that terrorists could beat all eagle-eyed security operatives in the Federal Capital Territory and successfully attack the United Nation’s offices in Abuja barely months after last 1 Oct Golden Jubilee Independence anniversary violence saga is unpardonable and smacks of another security blunder that should again bother all well-meaning Nigerians.

That beyond the foreign missions, no agency, department, state, or personality in Nigeria is safe from the dastardly fate that jolted the over 400 workers of the 26 UN agencies and department in Ahuja is not a tale by moonlight.

The fact that the Nigerian electorate overwhelmingly endorsed the fact that Nigeria should become a democratic country, President Goodluck Jonathan must therefore, work with his team to right the image of the country, shore up overseas partners and investors' confidence and fast-track development.

This is a mission that must be swiftly pursued with all seriousness too and in Unison. That the pen for terrorism listing is now again dangling over Africa's giant nation and about to drop is one bitter truth Nigerians must soon come to grasp with if no concerted and concrete energy is channeled by all leaders - traditional, political, religious, and youth, in the appropriate directions to halt the smear campaign against the Heart-beat of Africa.

By implication, it is time to tackle the monster full blast and not casting aspersion on which leader is failing somewhere, while the rest of us could lend the needed support and strengthen the issues for the betterment of the nation.

Maligning of the Presidency

Often, Nigerian leaderships have tried to impress on whosoever cared to listen that there is zero tolerance for violence and by extension that trouble sponsors or patrons of mischief risked sanction.

But in recent times and without prejudice, the commitment of Nigerians to upholding this decree has been lukewarm. Rather, the blame for all violence or dastardly attacks has been heaped at the door step of the presidency. Indeed, this is a misguided missile.

Until Nigerians have a change of attitude and tell ourselves the bitter truth and stop shielding miscreants and all known unscrupulous individuals for fear or favor, or other numerous (un) defined linkages, then the nation would continue to sit on the terrorists' pack of dynamites.

Who a typical Nigerian is not

Unlike the way it is rampant in most Arab and Islamic Nations, the average Nigerian is a happy individual who values own life above all other things. Thus, suicide bombing is a distant dessert.

But with ease at which cases of bomb attacks are recorded in the recent months and weeks in the country, the dangerous suicide trend seems to have become the vogue, raising more doubts on the origin of the attackers and their real grouse for striking.

Campaign by professional, not couriers

Furthermore, the emerging sophistication and precision in delivery by the bombers would but suggest, as one Northern Moslem and traditional leader recently affirmed in his Muslim Festival message, that the attackers are no mere street urchins or couriers, but well-educated individuals with the grand mastery of modern hi-technology in communications as well as advanced techniques in bomb-making as well as usage.

Expanding the terror drag-net

While the authorities tarried to bring to book the suspects apprehended so far in relation to the series of bomb attacks that have rocked the country, it served as added impetus for their colleagues who could have been deterred by swift justice.

Security watch

Nigerian security agencies though have been trying to strategize in order to beat down the spate of dastardly strikes and their perpetrators, they must not lose sight of the fact, as checks in other countries indicated, that there could be some bad eggs within their cadres capable of leaking secrets to the attackers.

There is therefore the need to sieve the chaff from the wheat and promote professionalism and practice within the code of ethics of security organizations for a safer Nigeria.

Beaming the searchlight in all axes

In fact, all accusing fingers each time there is a dastardly attack point to the Boko Haram Islamic sect based in the Northern part of the country that is campaigning for the implementation of a strict version of Shariah law.

Though the sect has claimed to be responsible for the assassinations and bombings including the June car blast at the Nigeria Police headquarters which claimed two lives, the members have disclaimed some of its purported spokespersons, which implicitly meant that there are other factions secretly unleashing terror attacks while the Boko Haram gets the bashing.

Gen. Carter Ham, Commander of the United States military operations in Africa had hinted that Boko Haram may be trying to link with two al-Qaida-linked groups in other African countries to mount joint attacks in Nigeria.

Specifically, on 17 Aug 17 during a visit to Nigeria, Ham had told the Associated Press (AP) that "multiple sources" indicate that Boko Haram made contacts with al Qa'eda in the Islamic Maghreb, which operates in northwest Africa, and with al-Shabab in Somalia.

"I think it would be the most dangerous thing to happen not only to the Africans but to us as well," the US general said.

The American commander’s disclosure therefore raises the need for leaders to fashion out a well coordinated trans-national anti-terrorism campaign to safeguard lives and property in the Sub-Saharan Africa as whatever negatively affects Nigeria would impact on the rest of the countries in the geographical zone.

Thus, the convergence of the Economic Community of West African States [ECOWAS] leaders and other stakeholders in Ahuja recently to brainstorm on how the plaguing terrorism seizures could be arrested is a step in the right direction to reassure foreign investors and hedge against massive capital flight.

Forestalling further smear strikes

What can Nigeria do in the present circumstance to safeguard life and property? This has remained the question on most lips. Simple: resolve to plug all loopholes. But again, could Vice President Namadi Sambo, replicate the feat of the incumbent President Jonathan in the Niger Delta when he wore that Number Two shoe?

Without prejudice, Sambo has the wherewithal to design a solid structure that would rally the support of the Northern political elders, religious and youth leaders to dissuade unhealthy violent agitations, sweep the states in that region of all undesirable elements - alien or indigenes even as the federal government sieves mercenaries at the entry points.

Such feat will further raise the ovation for the Jonathan Sambo administration.

[Description of Source: Lagos National Daily in English - independent weekly news magazine]

Militant Group Reacts to Islamic Sect's Threat To Bomb Southwest Nigeria

AFP20110917598002 Isheri Nigerian Compass Online in English 2300 GMT 16 Sep 11

[Interview with Otunba Gani Adams, national coordinator of Odua People Congress (OPC) by Bimbo Ogunnaike; place and date not given: "'South West is No-Go -Area for Boko Haram'"]

Otunba Gani Adams, is the National Coordinator of Odua People Congress (OPC). In this interview with BIMBO OGUNNAIKE, Adams spoke at length on the Boko Haram insurgency, religious crisis, the Sovereign National Conference (SNC), among other issues.

The Boko Haram sect said that they are going to bomb the South West, especially Lagos State. What is your response to this?

I don't think Boko Haram has the gut to come and bomb Lagos State. We are using this opportunity to appeal to them that they should not do it in their own interest. I don't know what the South West has done to warrant that kind of threat. One, a Yoruba man is not the president of this country, is not the vice- president, is not the Senate President, is not the Speaker or in any top position in this country. Why should they because they are aggrieved with the government threaten to bomb Yoruba land? Our own level of reasoning is not based on anarchy. So, in their own interest, they should not try it.

What if they try it?

The consequence will be great. It is not only the OPC as an organisation that will rise against them. The entire Yoruba race will also rise against them. If they think very well, if they have a good strategy, will they threaten people who are almost 70 to 80 million? So, why should you endanger the lives of your people just because you want to register your intention by throwing grenades and bombs? It is not done anywhere. If you want to do anything, you have to consider the interest of your people in terms of lives and property. Go to Agege in Lagos, you will see almost a million Hausa people are living there. They have a lot of people in Lagos and other states in the South West. So, why can you say you will come and bomb here again when most of our people have been driven away from Maiduguri; they have been driven away from Kano, Kaduna States. Even before Boko Haram insurgence, most of our people had been driven away, their businesses had been ruined because of religious crisis in the North. Immediately they start their religious crises, they will start targeting the investment of non- Hausa Fulani people. And majority of the non-Hausa Fulani people are the Southerners, basically the Yoruba people. You have driven away our people from your states. You have killed them. You have ruined their businesses and you are coming to bomb our Lagos. That is a war against the Yoruba people. So, definitely, we will not accept that. I want to use this opportunity to appeal to Yoruba people to be watchful. They have to be security conscious. Security is not meant for the security agencies alone. Every human being from the age of 18 upward should be security conscious. When you see strange people moving around your streets, you have to report to appropriate quarters. You have to be vigilant too and watch your neighbourhood. This is very, very important. It is unfortunate that we are witnessing bombing in Nigeria. Two or three years ago, it was strange to our culture. It is only in the Middle East region that we see maiming, killings of people. Bombing is now rampant in the country. This is not a Muslim nation. We run our country based on secularism. We have Christians, we have Muslims, we have traditionalists, we have the Eckankar in Nigeria. So, for you to now bring your agenda to over run different people with different beliefs, I don't think it will work. It will be highly disastrous. If you are fighting a cause and you realised that people are not in support of it, the best thing for you is to re-trace your steps. I am advising them in their own interest that they should not try it in the South West.

Some people are of the view that what is happening now, especially with the bombings and killings in the Northern part of the country, may lead to break up of Nigeria as predicted by United States of Nigeria few years back. Do you see this coming pass?

Don't forget that the Americas predicted the breaking up of the Soviet Union. They predicted the Czechoslov akia break up. They predicted the Sudan break up. So, I will not be surprised if what Americans predicted about Nigeria comes to pass. The way we handle our polity is becoming more and more fragile everyday to the extent that sectional interest is gaining momentum within the circle of political players. Even Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who happened to preach Nigerianess is championing the cause of the South West now. The same thing applies to General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and General Muhammadu Buhari.

They are championing the cause of the North. The Niger Delta people are also championing their own cause too. They have their own agenda. The Igbo too are calling for their own interest. So, either we like it or not, Nigeria is moving towards aggressive sectional agenda. We have been telling them that we have to appreciate our diversity. And if we want to appreciate our diversity, we must make sure we sustain our diversity.

How do we sustain our diversity?

For the past few years now, Nigerians have been agitating for a Sovereign National Conference where every ethnic groups that make up the country can sit together and discuss the unity of Nigeria. With what is happening now, do you see this coming to fruition despite the fact that it has been rejected by successive governments in the past?

The issue of SNC or whatever you call it cannot be a mirage. You don't achieve your cause the day you started it. That is why we call it a struggle. That is why we call it a cause. It is a cause you have to fight for, to champion and achieve. It is like a prayer. Even though you are praying to God, it is not the day you pray to God concerning your requests that God will answer it. Even when God wants to answer your prayer, He will do it gradually. I believe that the SNC agitation started from the South West here, by the late Alao Aka- Bashorun in 1989. And from Alao Aka-Bashorun, people like us joined them in 1993. We saw it that we have to sit down together and decide how we want to run this nation to be a united nation. When the late Abiola won the election of 1993, he promised Nigerians that he will organise an SNC to discuss about the future of Nigeria. He saw that there will be crisis in future. The crisis Abiola saw in then is what we are witnessing now. A good president must have vision and when you have vision, you will know what will happen in future. And a president that knows what will happen in future is a leader. Even when he is no more a president, his advice can be useful. He can be more resourceful in different areas.

Unfortunately, we didn't allow the man to be the president. Many people believe that an SNC is the way out of our problems in this country. The Niger Delta people are calling for resource control and SNC. Now, Babangida is calling for true federalism. Can we achieve true federalism without a conference? So, we can only achieve true federalism through a conference, either you call it SNC or National Conference. So, I believe that the last bus stop, the hope of solving the problem of this country is by conference. I don't know the name you want to call it because immediately you mention SNC, the people in power think you want to take away the sovereignty from them. Nobody wants to take away the sovereignty from them. Sovereignty belongs to the authority. When we get to this conference, there will be term of reference that will not affect the sovereignty which is the instrument of power. So, nobody is thinking along that line. Now, people are talking about constitutional amendment. Why are we talking about constitutional amendment? Is it not because of the problems we have as a country? Those who are in the State Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly are politicians to the core. I was surprised to read an interview of a member of the House of Representatives on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria that nobody should be calling for the SNC. I was surprised that the person is coming from the ACN . I expected the leadership of the ACN to call that kind of a person to order because Nigerians are watching them. Most of the founding fathers of the ACN are the people calling for th e SNC in the persons of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande. It is unthinkable that somebody from the party is against what the leaders of the party believe in and is criticising it now. He is somebody who just got the mandate from the people three months ago. The party must take action by either giving him warning or disciplining him because he is against the ideology of the party. If they have it at the back of their minds that because they have won, the South West people are not watching their utterances, they are making a mistake. The people of the South West are monitoring every statements they uttered from their mouths. That you are in the National Assembly, does not mean that you are going to decide the fate of this country alone. It is going to be a collective decision. That must be cleared. In the history of this country, before independent, everything was through conference. The Richard Constitution was through conference. The McPherson Constitution was through conference. The Republican Constitution was through conference. The 1979 Constitution was through conference. The only constitution written by few persons was of the last military occupation. So, it is unfortunate that a lawmaker will be saying that there should be no SNC to decide the fate of this nation. When people get to power, they forget their roots.