By The Nation: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation Abubakar
The armed forces and security agencies are not taking lightly the Thursday threat by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, against Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
The leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau, had posted a 14-minute vidoe on You Tube on Thursday boasting that President Jonathan is incapable of stopping the group’s serial attacks.
“You, Jonathan ,cannot stop us like you boasted;instead we will devour you in three months like you are boasting.
“It is eternal victory to die working for Allah,”Shekau, in a white robe and flanked by two men holding Kalashnikov rifles, said.
The preliminary response from the military and the security agencies yesterday was placing their men and officers on red alert.
The Nation learnt yesterday that the security agencies have been directed to tighten security nationwide to counter whatever plans the sect may be hatching.
Other measures are being put in place, according to security sources in Abuja yesterday.
It was also gathered that preliminary investigations into the Easter Day blast in Kaduna confirmed that a time bomb was actually planted in the car that killed over 40 people most of whom were commercial motor-cyclists.
Fresh facts also emerged yesterday that some senior police officers and other stakeholders are behind the push for the review of the dismissal of former police commissioner, Mr. Zakari Biu.
A top security source, speaking on the Boko Haram threat yesterday, said it was no surprise in view of the recent onslaught on the sect by the Federal Government.
Said the source: “As far as security agencies are concerned, the threat from the sect leader, Shekau, was predictable going by the recent gains of the Joint Task Force against Boko Haram.
“But we are not taking it lightly at all. Since the video was released, there has been a series of meetings by the military and security agencies on how to secure the country. We cannot ignore the threat at all.
“The government has directed the military and security agencies nationwide to tighten security nationwide in view of the guerilla tactics of the sect.
“The police and security agencies will rise to the challenge like they have done in the last three months.
“There is no basis for apprehension or disillusionment by Nigerians.”
Another source said preliminary investigations into the Easter Day bomb explosion in Kaduna has shown that a time-bomb was deployed by the perpetrators.
It was also learnt that security agencies stumbled on appreciable clues that the time bomb was targeted at two churches within Sardauna Crescent in Kaduna .
The source said: “So far, from preliminary investigations, we have strong reasons to suspect that it was a time-bomb targeted at the two churches near the place of the incident.
“Were it a suicide mission, the perpetrator(s) would have defied security barricades by church wardens and policemen to take a plunge or wreak havoc. This theory is based on the analysis of past strikes by Boko Haram.
“Having been frustrated by the barricades, the bomber(s) moved a few metres away and being a time-bomb, it detonated closer to the tea joint where more than 40 commercial motor-cyclists were having breakfast.”
Fresh facts also emerged yesterday that some senior police officers and other stakeholders are behind the push for the review of the dismissal of a former Commissioner of Police, Mr. Zakari Biu.
They strongly believe that he was not indicted by either a Special Investigative Panel (SIP) or any Police Committee.
It was learnt that some stakeholders are seeking reprieve for Biu because, in their view, he has contributed immeasurably to put the anti-terrorism unit in the Nigeria Police Force in place.
Said a top source: “Top police officers and other ranks are not happy at the fate that has befallen Biu. This is a bad precedent. It is like saying any police commissioner will be culpable if armed robbers either escape from custody or through jailbreak.
“Some police officers and stakeholders are demanding the review of the dismissal of Zakari Biu because he was not directly involved in the arrest and escape of a Boko Haram coordinator.
“What happened was that a special team from the office of the former Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, coordinated the arrest of Kabiru Sokoto on January 14 and later took the suspect to Zone 7.
“Even while Kabiru Sokoto was in custody in Zone 7, the instructions were still coming from the IGP’s office.
“If Zakari Biu as a Police Commissioner was fully in charge of the suspect, it would have been a different scenario because he is a counter-terrorism expert.
“There are three circumstances under which Zakari Biu can be dismissed under Police Regulations. These are: if he had indicted himself, if the other ranks(five policemen) involved in the escape bid indicted him or if Kabiru Sokoto had come out to testify that Biu knew about his escape.
“None of these circumstances subsisted before Biu was dismissed by the Police Service Commission (PSC).
“Nigerian journalists should dig further. Neither the Special Investigative Panel (Military panel) nor Police Committee indicted Zakari Biu.
“The government should also release the outcome of Biu’s trial to the public.”
Another top police officer, who spoke in confidence, said: “The morale is low over the fate of Biu and police officers are angry. For 10 years, Biu was on suspension and he came back to face this challenge.
“If you look at Zakari Biu, you will pity him because he has had a bad career and he is living from hand to mouth. He gave in his best, he put anti-terrorism on a sound footing but he was consumed by his passion.
The PSC management had, on Wednesday, said there are two conditions which could lead to the review of Biu’s dismissal.
A source in PSC said: “We can only reconsider Biu’s case if there are fresh facts or evidence placed before the commission. Also, Biu will have to convince the commission beyond reasonable doubt that he had no hand in how Kabiru Sokoto escaped.
“And until Kabiru Sokoto’s case is eventually determined, it will be difficult to review Biu’s case.
“Well, in any case, we have not received any formal appeal for the review of the dismissal from Biu. There is no record of such.”
The Christmas Day bombings at St.Theresa’s Catholic Church claimed 44 parishioners and others.
The search for the masterminds led to the arrest of Kabiru Sokoto at Borno Governor’s Lodge on January 14, 2012.
But barely 48 hours in custody, Sokoto escaped in Abaji in the midst of the custody of policemen who went to search his home.
The incident led to the querying and retirement of the former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim.
The National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoye Azazi, also set up an investigative panel which was made up of senior officials from different arms of the security agencies as well as officials of the Ministry of Police Affairs.
The Senate on February 21 recommended Biu’s trial by a court.
The Police Service Commission also dismissed Biu on February 22. But Sokoto was later re-arrested by the SSS in Taraba State.
The re-arrest has led to a demand for the review of Biu’s dismissal by the PSC.
