There was heightened fear in parts of the South-East on Monday as news
spread that hundreds of persons suspected to be Boko Haram members were
arrested in Abia State.
The suspects, including eight women, were said to have been arrested
along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway by soldiers attached to the 144
Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Asa in the Ukwa West Local Government Area on
Sunday.
Their arrest occurred some hours after security operatives detonated improvised
explosive devices planted on the premises of a branch of the Living Faith World
Bible Church (a.k.a. Winners Chapel) in Owerri, Imo State.
Before the Commander of the 144 Battalion, Lt. Col. Rasheed Omolori,
announced the suspects’ arrest, the South-East governors vowed after paying a
solidarity visit to President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja that they
would not allow Boko Haram to attack the zone.
Omolori had told journalists at a news conference that his men
intercepted a convoy of 33 buses conveying 486 suspected insurgents aged
between 16 and 24 around 3am on Sunday.
The suspects, according to him, claimed to have come from
different parts of the North in search of jobs.
He added that two of the 33 buses escaped with their occupants and that
the incident had been reported to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
The Abia State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr. Eze
Chikamnayo, who was at the briefing alongside the Chief Press Secretary to the
Governor, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, said the large number of vehicles conveying the
suspects made the soldiers suspicious.
Wondering how such a long motorcade could not be intercepted by security
personnel until it reached Abia State, Chikamnayo said it was also baffling
that none of the suspects was able to identify the location they
were heading for.
He however said that the Army and other security agencies in the state
were working to uncover the actual mission of the suspects and those behind
their movement.
The commissioner advised every state to work hand-in-hand with their
security personnel to check insurgency in the country.
“Every security problem is local and if we handle it locally it will be
nipped in the bud,” he said.
Was anything dangerous weapon found on them?Any confessions obtained?the conclusion that theuy are Boko Haram members seems hasty. Are they Nigerians?These questions will help greatly to determine what this horde of travellers had as their mission. It is now very common place in the south like Bayelsa to see a good number of job hunters in d population. Some genuinely are engaged as keke drivers,block moulders,labourers etc. Let's challenge the authorities to do a thorough job.
ReplyDeleteAre u jocking me? How can almost 500 pple travel in a convoy n coming from d north? Of all places in naija y north? Pls u need a rethink Mr.
DeleteWhy will 486 aboki's enter into another man's territory in the midle of the night claiming that they re in search for jobs that's why they have come over 2 the south. Are there no jobs in the north? Let them remain in their sharia states in the desart (north) bcus we can't accommodate any coward bombing in the south
DeleteThey haven't said anything yet oga. But its a good thing they were arrested. This is so emotional a matter because of d heinous and senseless killings by BH.Remembr d baby with d bath water. Remember your legal sdystem and presumption of innocence. Remember!!!!!!!!!!!!Good job by d police. We all must b vigilant. Period.
DeleteAbeg keep shut! Prevention is better than cure...........
ReplyDeleteHw can 486 ppl jt live der state in d name of lookn 4a job. Abeg send dan back to north oh I no fit shout.
ReplyDelete486. Wow!good question. What of d police and military checkpoints?did ds guys fall in frm d sky to Abia?we don't have any form of security in Naija. When we ordinary helpless Nigerians go to sleep,d police and all security agencies snore away at night,hence ds.
DeleteWhat of bomb detonated at d church, u re waiting for weapons to find on them, u must be a millenium joker. Their weapon have gone ahead of them. Pls they should b tortured seriously for them to confess their mission. I'm quite certain they are vampires (bh) they can't be job seekers without direction.
ReplyDeleteGbam! Is a planned trip, der weapons must hv arrived safely early b4 nw. God 'l keep xposen d evil doers in dis con3.
DeleteThere is more to dis, d have a deadly plans d re coming in 33buses, I jt tired 4dis ppl.
ReplyDeleteBomb all of them b4 d bomb innocent ppl bcos dats der mission. I rest my case.
ReplyDeleteNa tru, let d authority bomb dem so dey can feel wat we r feeling. B.H I HATE U!!!!.
ReplyDeleteThis ought not to b in d news, they should v been killed silently! Cos we all know their mission
ReplyDeletePls find d 2 buses dat escapd n bomb all of dem 2geda!
ReplyDeleteHow can this big convoy travel through Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Enugu/Ebonyi and reach Abia undetected. There is lapse/conivance among security personnel and govt should find out the routes they passed and grill the security men on that route.
ReplyDeleteThey should luke for that other bus that is where there wepone is.this people have enter east not just the foce everybody need to be allat.we want to send the one's that are here back to there conteiry and the one's there are coming back God punishe the davli plesae ckn the next news we want to here is that the milltry's has made away with dos bomb'bers.
ReplyDeleteIf each of them were assigned to bomb different public places, we should be thinking of 500 bomb blasts and if multiplied by at least 200 death tolls, we will be looking at 100,000 lives. there are more to this. pls look at the following questions for ur analysis, Where did this ppl come from?, Why were they in a convoy of 33 buses?, why did they choose to make their journey at night?, Do they have existing accommodation where 500 ppl can stay? who are the owners of the buses? who sponsored the trip?, why did the remaining 2 buses escape?, which ppl knew abt it? if you are contributing, never forget the BH saga in the North and always put the unity of Nigeria into consideration. Boko haram was handled with kids gloves when it started. pls take note.
ReplyDeleteIf u dnt want to kill them, keep them outside under sun, rain, at night n during d day. Dnt contaminate our bad prison wit these vampires. They should b killed!!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 10:55am thanks for ur intelligent observations and questions
ReplyDeleteThey re lucky they were caught in the midnight had it been it was day time when aba never sleep there name by now for be grave n there is God oh oh
ReplyDeleteIf u kill dem, 2 luxirious bus will be kill frm eath to north,igbos sould be careful bcus d population of igbosin north are more dan our own in east ,be warn
ReplyDeleteDon't worry I trust my poeple u will hear their end
ReplyDelete