Boko Haram: SSS Grills Ex-Governor Shekarau

Written by This Day Wednesday, 01 February 2012

Former Governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, was Tuesday  grilled by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) over an allegation by Boko Haram that it stepped up attacks in Kano because the present administration had cancelled the monthly stipend it enjoyed while Shekarau’s administration lasted.

Also, the sect in different attacks in Maiduguri on Monday night killed two personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and four other civilians.

THISDAY gathered that the former governor was quizzed for about an hour on issues concerning the sect’s activities in the state, especially with regards to the latest deadly attacks on the ancient city.
It was also gathered that the former governor denied before his interrogators that he had no links with the sect and that his administration did not give monthly stipends to the group.

An SSS  source said Shekarau was let off and allowed to go back home, but there is every likelihood that he could be re-invited to give further clarifications in the course of investigations, “if need be”.
But the former governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Sule Yaú Sule, in a press statement in Kano yesterday said Shekarau was not arrested.

He said: “It has been observed that the former governor arrived at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) on board of IRS in Kano on Tuesday evening dressed in blue brocade and blue cap matching colour was smiling when some loyalists came to the MAKIA to welcome him back to the state.

“Immediately the IRS touched ground at 5. 06 pm, the former governor went straight to the VIP lounge to meet some loyalists that have been expecting his arrival.”

Shekarau said: “I am going to my house; you can see me, and when asked whether he was arrested by security operatives, he just smiled and said ‘but you can see me in Kano now’.”

According to him, “Well it would be very good for people to crosscheck whatever information they got before flying such a card to member of the public.”

Meanwhile, in another orgy of killings in Borno State, the sect killed two NAF officers at separate locations and four others within and outside the state capital, Maiduguri.

THISDAY gathered that one of the NAF officers, who was dressed in mufti and was going home after the day’s work, was gunned down by the group just a few metres away from the Maiduguri Air Force Base on Monday night.

A witness said the officer, who was killed at the Ngomari area, was shot after the gunmen had earlier killed two of his brothers at a residence in the area.

The witness said in the incident, which occurred at about 6.30pm on Monday, the gunmen had approached the home of the deceased’s brothers and made demand on them which they could not fulfil and in anger, shot them to death.

It was also gathered that the deceased were shot in the presence of their mother, and later sped off in the victims’ car and other valuables.

As they were about starting the vehicle, they saw the NAF officer who was in mufti and thought he was aiming to attack them and opened fire on him.

They were later given a hot chase by the Joint military Task Force (JTF) and had an accident on Damboa Road, a distance of about two kilometres from the scene of the robbery.
The gunmen, it was also gathered, abandoned the vehicle on the road and fled through the bushes, leaving the pursuing soldiers in a dilemma.

In another incident, THISDAY gathered that the other NAF officer was killed when the group attacked his neighbourhood at Polo area of the town, a distance of about 150 kilometres from Maiduguri.

The sect members also killed another man during sporadic gunshots at the popular Monday market.
THISDAY further gathered that they heard sporadic gunshots yesterday afternoon and when the atmosphere was calm, they saw a dead body on the street.

The Fields Operations Officer of JTF, Col. Victor Ebhaleme, while confirming the killing on phone, said the military was on top of the situation.

The Borno State Commissioner of Police, Simeon Midenda, also confirmed on phone the incident, but said he could not give details as he was on his way to Abuja for a meeting with the Acting Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Dikko Abubakar.

Midenda said: “I can confirm the killing of a civilian in Gamboru Ngala Local Government. He was shot dead in front of a mosque last night (Monday).”

In another development, the United Nations Special Mission of Enquiry on the August 26, 2011 bombings of the UN Building in Abuja has arrived Nigeria in their quest to unravel the circumstances leading to the terrorist attack.

Receiving the team, Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, assured them of the maximum support of the FCT Administra-tion (FCTA) in order to successfully carry out their task.
He said that FCTA would continue to partner and collaborate with the UN agencies in Abuja for the benefits of ordinary residents of the nation’s capital.

Comments (0)

Show/hide comments

Show/hide comment form