Wednesday, January 8, 2014
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*Narrates how terrorists plan to attack FG …Report ready next month From GODWIN TSA, Abuja The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said yesterday that its report on the killings of eight squatters by security operatives at an uncompleted building in Apo District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on allegations that they were Boko Haram members, would be released next month. Executive Secretary, Prof. Ben Angwe, who disclosed this during the visit of the investigation team to the scene of the incident, said the panel would complete the public hearing this week. This is even as a suspected member of the sect, Mohammed Adamu (aka Engineer), an indigene of Katsina State, who had led soldiers in the attack some three months ago, told the panel led by Chairman of the Governing Council of the NHRC, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, Angwe and others that he was recruited into the sect by their Abuja leader, one Suleiman (aka R. Kelly) who trained them on how to attack the country. Other members on the visit were representatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) led by Cliff Osagie, the Nigerian Army led by Lt-Col. Godwin Auclalemi, an Assistant Director of Legal Service, Defence Headquarters, leaders of Tricycle Riders Association and their lawyer, Nkeruwen Michael Akpan, among others. Adamu, who was arrested by the DSS on September 18 last year, said 12 of Suleiman's recruits met severally at the uncompleted building where the killings took place last September. The 16-year-old suspect, who was a DSS witness, said their leader was training them on how to protect their religion (Islam) and that the only way they can do that effectively is to wage a war against the Federal Government. "We agreed that we are going to fight the government. That was why we held several meetings here in this building so that we can strategize on how to carry out the attack". Speaking through an interpreter, the lanky primary five drop-out said their leader; Suleiman had shown him some guns which include four AK47 and a pistol in a sack as part of the weapons they have to commence operation. Adamu said that he met Suleiman at Garki market where the latter contracted him (Adamu) to convey 10 recruits to the Apo's uncompleted building, which they agreed on a fee of N5,000.00 weekly. "Any time I bring these 10 persons, I will join them in a meeting here. We were altogether with Suleiman. We were discussing on how to protect our religion through war. So, we agreed to use guns to attack the government". He later took members of the panel to where the alleged weapons were buried by Suleiman. The squatters, mostly tricycle riders and petty traders, were killed on September 20 by soldiers and DSS operatives in a pre-dawn raid. The security agencies later claimed the victims were suspected terrorists who first attacked officials, a claim faulted by witnesses and residents of the area who described the attack as unprovoked; and the victims as homeless tricycle riders and petty traders. The Nigerian Army had while testifying before the panel claimed responsibility, saying its men acted in self-defence after they were shot at. Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, who was represented at the hearing by the Commander, Brigade of Guards, Major-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, said the incident, which occurred on September 20, was an isolated case, saying the Army had acted with a view to averting mayhem in Abuja. He said the Apo incident was part of ongoing military operation to rid the FCT of Boko Haram elements. He said the military acted on a report from the DSS which indicated plots by members of the sect to launch attacks in Abuja. According to him, between September 18 and 19, two persons were arrested in Abuja and they made useful confessions that there were arms hidden at Apo Cemetery to be used in a planned attack. He said the military went to the cemetery to retrieve the weapons, but that the suspects could not locate the spot as it was night. The suspect told the team that their leader, Suleiman could not locate the arms and that he lived at the Apo's uncompleted building. He said: "It was on that premise that the team cautiously moved to the uncompleted building to arrest Suleiman. "As troops were deploying to cordon off the building, the fire came; first it was a single shot, then rapid fire followed. The troops returned fire in self-defence." The Army yesterday insisted before the panel that the DSS got cogent information on a planned attack, saying the September 20 raid on the uncompleted building was necessary to abort the plan. Ihejirika said: "The military operating in FCT are well-trained in handling arms and have exercised restraint in the discharge of their duties."Apo is an isolated case and very unfortunate. The security agents acted pro-actively to prevent collateral damage that may have taken place in Abuja if the planned attack had taken place." The Army further lamented that Suleiman was still at large and that the said cache of arms at the Apo Cemetery was still not recovered.
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