Pesident Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, ex-Military leader Abdulsalami Abubakar, Ex-vice president Alex Ekwueme and others participated in the 56th Independence Anniversary Presidential Change of Guards Parade which held in Aso Rock, Abuja this morning to commemorate the independence day celebration.

"This is to inform the general public that the Boko Haram terrorist group has continued to establish and operate sleeper cells whose (sole) mandates are to conduct surveillance and carry out subsequent attacks in the FCT. This disclosure has become necessary following the arrests of the sect’s members who migrated from various conflict theaters in the North East to the FCT in order to enable them capitalize on the excitement of the yuletide season to launch attacks in the city.



For instance, on October 29th, 2015, the duo of Muhammed Hassan Idris (a Nigerien) and Baba Abdul Maina were arrested at Panteka area of Apo, Abuja. This was followed by the arrest of Sanni Mohammed (aka Kakase) and Ahmed Umaru (aka Mallam; Mallam Hamdi Garne; Ahmed Daubi) in Lafia, Nasarawa State. Sanni, who hails from Potiskum, Yobe State, fled the area following his involvement in coordinated suicide attacks in Yobe, Plateau, Kano and Kaduna States.

In a related development, on 19th November 2015, Mohammed Shiwar ABUBAKAR and Musa TA’ADA were arrested at Shoprite Junction, Apo, Abuja. ABUBAKAR hails from Borno State and operates as a taxi driver in Abuja. He is of an unknown address but claims that he sleeps in his Volkswagen Golf car at the Honda line, Apo mechanic village, Abuja. The Gwoza-born TA’ADA also operates under the cover of a suya seller at Apo Primary School along Kabusa Road, Abuja. Still, on 23rd November, 2015, one Ahmed HASSAN was arrested while carrying out surveillance on a high-profile hotel in the city.

He hails from Katagum, Bauchi State. Suspect admitted using the cover of a beggar to sustain surveillance on his targets. Bulama Ali, had previously been arrested in Karu, Nasarawa State, on 22nd November, 2015. Similarly, on 1st December, 2015, Hassan Abubakar and Mohammed Gwale Mohammed were arrested at Madalla, in Suleja LGA of Niger State following intelligence that they were planning to commence attacks in the FCT after a successful surveillance of the city. Before his arrest, Abubakar was working with other sect members in different parts of the country notably Borno, Yobe, Taraba and Adamawa States. Abubakar was arrested in the house of Mohammed GWALE who claims to be a Federal Civil Servant from Niger State.

He (Gwale) has made useful statements which are helping with further investigation. So far, preliminary investigations reveal that the suspects and others still at large may have adopted their respective trades as plausible covers to infiltrate the city and its environs in their bid to conduct successful surveillance and map out soft targets for the sect’s attacks. The DSS’ operations are, therefore, aimed at preempting any attacks by the terrorist elements against the backdrop of the upcoming festive period and beyond.

 It is in this regard that the Service wishes to advise residents and all law abiding Nigerians to remain vigilant especially at this yuletide season and promptly report to security agencies any suspicious movements and persons in the FCT and even other parts of the country. The Service also assures the general public that it will continue to carry out its responsibility of ensuring peace and security in Abuja and beyond.

Tony OPUIYO
Department of State Services Abuja.

Department of State Security 'Service' (DSS) has warned of impeding terror attacks in Abuja through a memo by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) about possible Boko Haram attacks.

Copies of the letter titled: “Forwarding of Intelligence” which was addressed to the National Presidents of Jaamatu Nasril Islam (JNI), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the General Manager of the Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML) were sent to several people in Abuja  Friday night/early Saturday morning.



The letter reads: “Intelligence reaching this office revealed that insurgents are planning to attack the Federal Capital Territory.

“Their main targets are worship centres and markets with the use of young girls as members of groups to carry out their planned attacks.

“It is in view of the foregoing, I am directed to inform you to communicate the content of this letter to all mosques, churches and markets across the FCT for extra-vigilance, particularly unknown persons dressing as aid workers loitering around the worship areas and markets.

“The Nigerian Police had made available, contact numbers to report any suspicious persons or movement. These are: 09063872207, 09053872208 and 09053872209.

“Please give the content of this letter the widest and fastest circulation to enable our worshippers to be vigilant and curb the menace of insurgency in the territory and beyond,”

Alhaji Adamu Gwari, the Deputy Director of Federal Capital Territory Authority’s Security Services Department said the letter was “based on intelligence that the  Boko Haram sect have new methods of operation.
He said:

“We are informing members of the public that the method of the operation is based on intelligence received that they would be targeting worship places and markets.

“So, we decided to inform the most important bodies, that is, the two religious bodies and the General Manager of Abuja Market Management Limited so that they can give the content of the letter the widest circulation.

With the recent arrest of five suspected members of the deadly Boko Haram sect, terrorizing the metropolis of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, the police seem to have been on the verge of dismantling the deadly cell which has coordinated most of the bombings around the metropolis.
                                

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the newly established Special Intelligence Response Team, SIRT, an elite unit of the Nigeria Police Force, designed by the Inspector General Police, Solomon Arase, to combat terrorism , armed robbery, kidnapping and various violent, launched a massive onslaught on the Abuja cell, leading to the arrest of five suspected members of the cell, while several IEDS, laptop and IED materials were recovered.

Investigations by Saturday Vanguard indicated that, the arrest of these suspects and the subsequent recoveries and of IEDs and it materials, have since thrown members of the cell, who are mainly natives of Igbira in Okene area of Kogi State, into disarray.

We gathered that the development, which is currently, not just flushing out members of the cell from Abuja, has also sent sympathizers of the sect into panic.

Security sources, who spoke Saturday Vanguard in Okene, Kogi State, on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorize to speak on the matter, disclosed that several member of the cell, based in Abuja are returning in their droves to Okene, adding that some of the suspects were arrested, while others have been forced to escape and relocate to neighboring states.

However, sources at the Force Headquarters Abuja, disclosed that the operation to effectively dismantle the Boko Haram, from Okene Kogi State, operating in Abuja, became imperative after the multiple bomb attacks on Kuje police Station and Nyaya areas of Abuja.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the exhibits and intelligence gathered from the scene of the explosion, were transferred to the highly trained operatives SIRT deployed by the IGP to apprehend the culprit.

It was gathered that, the operatives from SIRT, trailed two of the suspects, identified as Abdulazeez Muhazab and Ishiaka Salihu, to a house in Karmajiri, behind Military Area, Cemetery, off Airport Road, Abuja, recovering several explosives, detonators, chemicals in both liquid and powder form used for making bombs and several other ready made bombs. The suspects also, mentioned one Haulaki in military custody and one Hamza, as their leaders in Abuja.

Saturday Vanguard further gathered that Haulaki, who is also known as, Abdulwaheed Nasiru, was handed over to the police and during interrogations, he confessed and disclosed the addresses of three houses within Abuja and Suleija Niger State, where they produced and store explosives.

The operatives and on the strength of this confession, proceeded to Gauaraka area in Suleja, Niger State, Iddo Village off Airport road, Abuja and at Dan Asato area of Suleja, where five ready made IEDS, Chemicals used for bomb making, detonator, HP laptop, two books on several chemicals and engineering materials, An Ipad, loaded with IED, plate number of a car, scale, digital multimeter and a knife were recovered.

It was gathered that the Haulaki, also led the operatives to Galadima area where tangible information were gathered.
When Saturday Vanguard, interviewed, Haulaki, he confessed that he was a native of Okene, Kogi State.

“I am married and my wife is currently pregnant. I had just primary education which I did not finish. I am an Igbira man and my people are mainly Muslims. I came to Abuja seven years ago to learn auto mechanic at Games Village and I graduated four years after, before establishing my own workshop at Galadimawa Roundabout.

“In 2013, I joined the Boko Haram, there is the mosque along the road before Total Fillings Station, in Aiyoke area of Okene, Kogi State. Though I rented an apartment very close to the mosque and one of the sons of the landlord of that house, who is my friend, Abubakar, who was killed during operation visited that mosque and he introduced me to the Imam and the owner of the mosque, Mustapha who is currently in the custody of security agents.

“Mustapha was the one who indoctrinated me into the Boko Haram sect. He urged me through his teachings which were mainly on Fridays after the Jumat prayers, Saturdays and Sundays to be faithful to God and do his wishes and I should also oppose those going against the teachings of Prophet Muhammed.

“Mustapha usually urged us to support the cause of Jihad in the North Eastern part of the country in any way we can and when we cannot donate ourselves or money to the cause, we should at least pray for those waging the war. In some of his teachings, he told us that western education was a sin and working for the government was also a sin. He then asked those who have gone through secondary and university education to destroy their certificate.

“A lot of people, who were graduates from the secondary and university in that mosque, destroyed their certificates. That singular gesture endeared me to the sect. Aside Abubakar, I met some other young men, like , Usman , Abduljalal, Abu Hamza, Bilal and Haron.

“These men were highly devoted to the course and they told me that they usually rob unbelievers and use the money to support the course. Abu Hamza is our leader and also one of the bomb manufacturer. He was the one who led us to rob two banks in Owo, Ondo State and Okene in Kogi State, and it is through that means that he raised money for bomb materials and others.

“He was the one who also thought Usman how to make the bombs. I am a very good driver and my duty is to drive vehicles to various destinations. I usually don’t ask if there is bomb in those vehicles or not all I do is to follow instruction.

“A few months ago, some security agents came from Kaduna and arrested Abu Hamza and took him away. Few days to the Sallah, Usman was also arrested in Abuja and I got instructions from very senior members of our sect to move all the ready made bombs and the materials out of Usman’s house in Suleja and I moved them to my brother’s house who is also a member of our sect at Iddo area of Abuja.

“I also gave, two Ak-47 rifles and some bombs to a senior member, Abu Husssien who took them to Okene, Kogi State. Few days before the last sallah some vigilante men arrested and handed me over to the military intelligence who detained and later handed me over to the police special team. I regret joining the Boko Haram Sect,” he lamented.

Police operatives numbering more than 15 arrested two female suspected terrorists on Monday in Abuja. The incident occurred around 10:30 at the Gwarimpa Estate, CITEC end of the pedestrian bridge when the operatives stormed the spot where the two girls aged between 16 and 18, were standing as if waiting for somebody, and swooped on them in a bid to bundle them into their waiting vehicles.

The two girls wearing hijab, but not covering their faces, were waiting under the leg of the pedestrian bridge when the operatives arrived in two vehicles, a highlander and a Siena jeep.

LEADERSHIP arrived at the scene just as three of the operatives walked up to the girls and were showing them their Nigeria Police Force identification cards, asking them to move into the waiting vans.

Sensing resistance from the girls, more operatives, all plainclothes, rushed to the scene and started forcing the girls to move. The girls were screaming and refusing to enter the vehicles. Some car dealers who ply their trade at the scene and were not sure who the plainclothes men were tried to intervene to find out why they were taking the girls away.

The operatives warned the onlookers not to intervene and started bringing out their guns. About four of them brought out their pistols while some others brandished their AK-47 automatic rifles.

One of the traders who saw the drama that played out said when he saw both girls standing for sometime under the bridge, he had an uncanny feeling that these ladies could be terrorists and so was not surprised when the operatives came and picked them up.

President Buhari has expressed his deep and sincere condolences to families of the dead and injured in Friday's blast in Abuja and other parts of the country. President Buhari has also assured of his administration’s commitment in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.

“My heart goes out to the families of the dead and injured in Abuja, and other parts of the country.” -the words of President Muhammadu Buhari according to the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity , Garba Shehu

A delegation from the Presidency comprising of Chief of Staff Abba Kyari, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir David Lawal and others visited scenes of the bomb blast and hospitals where the injured are being treated.

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