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| Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Idris |
Kano, Nigeria - May 03.,2012. - The State Security Service (SSS) has arrested a man who allegedly
supplies explosives to Boko Haram, which has stepped up its attacks in
the last one week.
Ayuba Usman was arrested on Tuesday at his shop in a market in Kano
following information from suspected Boko Haram members arrested in
raids, the SSS Director in the state, Mr. Nelson Eteng, told reporters
Wednesday.
“Based on statements by high profile suspects... Ayuba Usman has been
providing combustible chemicals used in the manufacture of IEDs
(improvised explosive devices) for attacks on innocent people in the
city,” Eteng said. “The suspect is found to be linked with extremist
elements.”
The SSS displayed 35 drums of chemicals of 240 litres each and a dozen
bags of combustible items said to have been recovered during the raid on
the suspect's shop.
According to Eteng, the suspect was apprehended at one of the markets in Dala Local Government Area of the state.
“The chemicals are controlled. But when we find individuals selling
such materials to individuals who turn to harm innocent people, the
security will be concerned and that is why we are concerned,” he said.
He said the SSS operatives in the state would go deeper into the case
in order to know their network with a view to tracking down their
accomplices, adding that investigation would continue until the
perpetrators were arrested and punished.
Eteng said: “We are closing on very many suspects who are on the run,
and the intelligence networking is working closely to get them very
soon.”
He said the people of Kano are so tired of what is happening and are helping with information.
Last Sunday, gunmen attacked two church services at
Bayero University
Kano (BUK), throwing bombs and opening fire on worshippers as they
sought to flee, leaving dozens dead.
A high-calibre time bomb was also discovered at another of the
university's campuses in Kano and defused by a bomb squad the following
day.
Dozens of IEDs were recovered on Tuesday in a military raid on an
alleged Boko Haram hideout in the city which left one suspected militant
dead.
Meanwhile, police authorities yesterday reacted to the threat by Boko
Haram to attack more media houses by beefing up security around them.
Acting Inspector General of Police (IG) Mohammed Abubakar said the
force was aware of the threat and that he had directed commissioners of
police across the country to tighten security.
He advised media houses to contact commissioners of police in their states if their outfit is vulnerable.
The IG however reiterated that the police and other security agencies
were working hard to overcome the security challenges and blamed their
underperformance on underfunding, lack of training and ill equipment.
But the
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Wednesday in Abuja
issued a “final warning” to the Federal Government that any failure on
the part of government to halt the incessant attacks by the Boko Haram
would leave the body with no choice than to defend its members.
Addressing a press conference at the Ecumenical Centre, Abuja, CAN
President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, said the body’s position was based on
the inability of Boko Haram sponsors to be reasonable.
“You will recall in our last press conference, we told the nation that
the bombings and killings of innocent Nigerians may be termed senseless
but that is not without sense for those sponsoring the acts. Their plan
is to instil fear with the subsequent aim of eradicating religious
freedom, democratic liberties with the church and Christianity as is
primary target,” he said.
Oritsejafor explained that "the Nigerian nation and the global
community have been witnesses to the step-by-step escalation of violence
against innocent citizens with the Christians and the church suffering
the greatest loss."
The association stated that given the continuous launch of attacks by Boko Haram, it is immaterial to discuss the source.
“At this point in the unfolding insecurity challenges, it has become
irrelevant whether the root cause is political, religious, ethnic or
ideological. The fundamental issues are that the intimidation, killings,
bombings and wanton destruction of lives and property must stop
immediately,” CAN maintained.
Speaking on the next line of action, CAN president said though, "I am
aware that the greater part of the overall design is to instil fear in
the populace, I will now make a final call to the Nigerian government to
use all resources available to it to clearly define and neutralise the
problem as other nations have done.”
The Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWCAN) has called for an immediate overhaul of all security agencies.
YOWCAN said since the spate of bombings in the country is difficult for
them to stop, there was need for immediate shake-up in the nations'
security system.
By Yemi Akinsuyi, Paul Obi and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano
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