A suspected Boko Haram bomber was yesterday arrested while
trying to detonate what was perceived as an explosive at the Centrex
Unit of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in the Murtala
Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Sources said the suspect was able to gain access into the NAMA facility because he was physically challenged. He was, however, apprehended by security officials of the airspace agency who had witnessed his unusual movement as he was trying to press an object which they suspected could be an explosive. The airport police command was promptly alerted and the suspect handed over to the police, who took him to Beesam Police Station, Airport Command, where he was interrogated.
Efforts to get a confirmation from the Beesam Police Station did not yield result as the policemen on duty refused to talk to journalists who had besieged the office. The commissioner of police, Airport Command, Mr Waheed Salahu, said that it would be premature to talk with the media on the issue.
A source close to the command confirmed the story. The source who could not talk to the media on the issue said that the suspect was arrested around noon yesterday and had been taken to the Beesam Police Station.
The source could not confirm if the suspect was a member of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, but confirmed that explosive devices were on the suspect at the time of his arrest.
In a statement made available to journalists later in the day, NAMA said it was untrue that a suspected suicide bomber was arrested at one of the agency’s facilities at the airport.
Supo Atobatela, spokesman for NAMA, said: “The basic truth, however, is that the said suspect was on the ground making phone calls along the Airport Road close to CENTREX, an annex office of NAMA, when the agency’s security personnel accosted him.
“His incoherent explanation exposed him to the security personnel who later found on him some devices suspected to be explosives. He was subsequently handed over to the Airport Police Command for further investigation.”
He said the managing director of NAMA, Engineer Ibrahim Abdulsalam, in a reaction commended the security operatives for their vigilance and prompt arrest of the suspect.
5 killed in Fulani/Eggon clash in Nasarawa
A clash between Fulani cattle breeders and Eggon farmers has left four people dead, many injured and several houses destroyed in Ambaka area of Wamba local government area of Nasarawa State.
A survivor (names withheld) told LEADERSHIP that the Fulani attacked and killed an Eggon farmer on his farm for daring to challenge a Fulani man who invaded his farm with cows that were destroying and eating up his crops. He said the Fulani, numbering about three, used their machetes to inflict serious wounds on him, which led to his death.
On hearing the news, however, Eggon youths mobilized and attacked a Fulani community killing two in the process. On their way back ,however, the Fulani youths also ambushed the Eggon youths, equally killing two.
Investigations revealed that when the Eggon youths returned to the Fulani settlements on Sunday morning, reportedly to seek vengeance, the Fulani had fled their homes, leaving the community at the mercy of the Eggon youths who set homes and other business premises ablaze.
Speaking on the incident, the chairman of Wamba local government area, Hon. Musa Wayo, said the matter was promptly reported to the police who took proactive steps to ensure that the violence did no escalate.
Hon. Wayo who pleaded with both parties to sheathe their swords for peace to reign called on his subjects to stop rumour-mongering that serves to instil fear and escalate tension.
When contacted, the police public relations officer (PPRO), Ismaila Numa, said so far the police had recovered four corpses which had been deposited at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital.
Numan also said the police had ensured the return of normalcy to the area, adding that those who fled their homes had started to return.
7 killed in Borno border communities, as Boko Haram chased aged residents, women from Gwoza
Gunmen believed to be Boko Haram terrorists at the weekend attacked border communities in Marte local government area, killing a number of residents and setting ablaze homes, security officials said.
According to information sourced from security officials in Maiduguri, the attackers stormed the villages of Kaje, Alabanya and Aala. Officials of the Nigeria vigilante group, Adamson Tar and Muhammed Gava, told LEADERSHIP that scores of persons were killed during the attack on the villages.
“We’ve just received information that scores of persons have been killed by Boko Haram terrorists in Marte local government area. They burnt about five villages during the attack,” said the vigilante officials.
An official of the State Security Service in Maiduguri, who didn’t want to be named, confirmed the incident, saying that seven people died during the attack.
“The incident occurred on Sunday, 17th of Augustm at about 8:30am. The gunmen invaded the villages of Kaje, Allabanya and Aala all under Marte local government,” said the security operative.
Meanwhile, some residents of Gwoza, especially women and the aged who could not flee during the invasion of the town by Boko Haram terrorists, have been chased out of their homes by the insurgents.
Amina Abubakar, a displaced resident of Gwoza who is currently at a refugee camp in Madagali town of Adamawa State, said she was worried about her aged mother who had received a bullet injury and might not be able to make it out of the troubled town.
“We have just received information from those that were fleeing from Gwoza that the Boko Haram insurgents were forcefully asking them to leave, or else they shoot them,” said Amina, a 36-year-old woman. “They said the terrorists were saying that everyone must leave, whether aged or women, that they want to have a battle with the soldiers.”
Sources said the suspect was able to gain access into the NAMA facility because he was physically challenged. He was, however, apprehended by security officials of the airspace agency who had witnessed his unusual movement as he was trying to press an object which they suspected could be an explosive. The airport police command was promptly alerted and the suspect handed over to the police, who took him to Beesam Police Station, Airport Command, where he was interrogated.
Efforts to get a confirmation from the Beesam Police Station did not yield result as the policemen on duty refused to talk to journalists who had besieged the office. The commissioner of police, Airport Command, Mr Waheed Salahu, said that it would be premature to talk with the media on the issue.
A source close to the command confirmed the story. The source who could not talk to the media on the issue said that the suspect was arrested around noon yesterday and had been taken to the Beesam Police Station.
The source could not confirm if the suspect was a member of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, but confirmed that explosive devices were on the suspect at the time of his arrest.
In a statement made available to journalists later in the day, NAMA said it was untrue that a suspected suicide bomber was arrested at one of the agency’s facilities at the airport.
Supo Atobatela, spokesman for NAMA, said: “The basic truth, however, is that the said suspect was on the ground making phone calls along the Airport Road close to CENTREX, an annex office of NAMA, when the agency’s security personnel accosted him.
“His incoherent explanation exposed him to the security personnel who later found on him some devices suspected to be explosives. He was subsequently handed over to the Airport Police Command for further investigation.”
He said the managing director of NAMA, Engineer Ibrahim Abdulsalam, in a reaction commended the security operatives for their vigilance and prompt arrest of the suspect.
5 killed in Fulani/Eggon clash in Nasarawa
A clash between Fulani cattle breeders and Eggon farmers has left four people dead, many injured and several houses destroyed in Ambaka area of Wamba local government area of Nasarawa State.
A survivor (names withheld) told LEADERSHIP that the Fulani attacked and killed an Eggon farmer on his farm for daring to challenge a Fulani man who invaded his farm with cows that were destroying and eating up his crops. He said the Fulani, numbering about three, used their machetes to inflict serious wounds on him, which led to his death.
On hearing the news, however, Eggon youths mobilized and attacked a Fulani community killing two in the process. On their way back ,however, the Fulani youths also ambushed the Eggon youths, equally killing two.
Investigations revealed that when the Eggon youths returned to the Fulani settlements on Sunday morning, reportedly to seek vengeance, the Fulani had fled their homes, leaving the community at the mercy of the Eggon youths who set homes and other business premises ablaze.
Speaking on the incident, the chairman of Wamba local government area, Hon. Musa Wayo, said the matter was promptly reported to the police who took proactive steps to ensure that the violence did no escalate.
Hon. Wayo who pleaded with both parties to sheathe their swords for peace to reign called on his subjects to stop rumour-mongering that serves to instil fear and escalate tension.
When contacted, the police public relations officer (PPRO), Ismaila Numa, said so far the police had recovered four corpses which had been deposited at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital.
Numan also said the police had ensured the return of normalcy to the area, adding that those who fled their homes had started to return.
7 killed in Borno border communities, as Boko Haram chased aged residents, women from Gwoza
Gunmen believed to be Boko Haram terrorists at the weekend attacked border communities in Marte local government area, killing a number of residents and setting ablaze homes, security officials said.
According to information sourced from security officials in Maiduguri, the attackers stormed the villages of Kaje, Alabanya and Aala. Officials of the Nigeria vigilante group, Adamson Tar and Muhammed Gava, told LEADERSHIP that scores of persons were killed during the attack on the villages.
“We’ve just received information that scores of persons have been killed by Boko Haram terrorists in Marte local government area. They burnt about five villages during the attack,” said the vigilante officials.
An official of the State Security Service in Maiduguri, who didn’t want to be named, confirmed the incident, saying that seven people died during the attack.
“The incident occurred on Sunday, 17th of Augustm at about 8:30am. The gunmen invaded the villages of Kaje, Allabanya and Aala all under Marte local government,” said the security operative.
Meanwhile, some residents of Gwoza, especially women and the aged who could not flee during the invasion of the town by Boko Haram terrorists, have been chased out of their homes by the insurgents.
Amina Abubakar, a displaced resident of Gwoza who is currently at a refugee camp in Madagali town of Adamawa State, said she was worried about her aged mother who had received a bullet injury and might not be able to make it out of the troubled town.
“We have just received information from those that were fleeing from Gwoza that the Boko Haram insurgents were forcefully asking them to leave, or else they shoot them,” said Amina, a 36-year-old woman. “They said the terrorists were saying that everyone must leave, whether aged or women, that they want to have a battle with the soldiers.”
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