Posted by ROTIMI WILLIAMS, Musa Simon-Reef, Bukola Ojeme and JIBOLA OYEKUNLE on
FRESH facts emerged on Saturday as to why the United States closed its Consulate in Lagos, citing security reasons.
FRESH facts emerged on Saturday as to why the United States closed its Consulate in Lagos, citing security reasons.
Investigations by Sunday Punch revealed that there were reports that some point men of a global ring linked to the terrorist group, Al-Qaeda, were on their way to Nigeria to co-ordinate attacks on some embassies.
Top security sources said that the fundamentalists were to arrive in the country a few hours before the consulate moved swiftly to take what it considered as a pre-emptive measure.
According to the sources, the point men of the group were to supervise such operations as bombings, violent attacks on the business interests of some developed nations in Nigeria, and possible abduction of some foreigners, especially embassy officials.
Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, India, Finland, Russia, Sweden and Lebanon on Friday also closed their consulates in the nation's commercial capital, alleging terrorists' threats.
It was learnt that prior to its decision to shut down its Consulate on Thursday, the US authorities had made representations to the Federal Government on three occasions on an alleged plan by Al-Queda to strike in Nigeria.
Sources claimed that the US felt uncomfortable with the way its warnings, which it said were based on intelligence reports, were officially handled.
Officials of the US embassy were said to have taken a final decision to close the Consulate after it received a security report from Washington that the fundamentalists had concluded a plot to strike in Nigeria.
The reports reportedly identified the target of the planned attacks as the diplomatic missions of US, UK and other notable countries which formed the allied forces that led the military onslaught, culminating in the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq.
Sunday Punch learnt that the reports specifically noted that Al Queda had concluded plans to 'liberate Nigeria and have a solid footing in the country."
We learnt that the US believed that Osama bin Laden, leader of the dreaded Al Queda, had a network in Nigeria and had carried out a surveillance on US and UK facilities ahead of the launching of an offensive.
The closure of the US embassy on Thursday was said to be the climax of several days of security checks by the US of the possibility of the planned strike by the terror group.
In one of its reports, the US was said to have claimed that apart from registering its presence in Nigeria, the terrorist group had been recruiting some local sympathisers for the purpose of formenting trouble.
In 2003, US and some EU countries had expressed fears about the nation's security when Queen Elizabeth of England was to visit Nigeria to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Abuja.
The trip, which was almost cancelled, prompted the drafting of several undercover agents from UK to Nigeria ahead of the arrival of the Queen in Abuja.
The Nigerian government, is however, not taking the security alarm lightly.
The authorities on Friday ordered a 24-hour surveillance patrol at the borders, seaports, airports.
Besides, heads of relevant security agencies in Nigeria, including the military, top government officials reportedly met behind closed doors early Saturday in Abuja, over the decision of the countries to close their consulates in Lagos.
It was learnt that in addition to other security measures already put in place, the government may resort to house-to-house search in some areas for dangerous weapons and explosives both of high and low calibre, which were suspected to have been illegally acquired.
Both UK and US also were said to be increasingly worried over the recent rise in banditry in major cities in the country.
They claimed that the spate of banditry, if unchecked, would be injurious to their interests, as the 'terrorists could capitalise on the porous security situation to strike and their attacks could be mistaken for armed robberies."
Sunday Punch learnt that officials of the affected countries held a meeting with the Federal Government and demanded assurance of general security from the home government.
Meanwhile, government has additionally drafted men of the Nigerian Air Force to assist all other security agencies at the nation's seaports and airports.
The Navy, Sunday Punch learnt, were also mandated to back up the marine police to ensure a 24 hour cover for the nation's waterways.
The Navy are to ensure adequate cover at the water fronts, close to the various embassies.
Some leaders of some of the militant groups, believed to be receiving foreign financial assistance, are already under a security watch.
It was learnt that the State Security Service (SSS) operatives and men of the Nigeria Police, drafted for the assignment, were ordered to submit daily security reports to their headquarters and the office of the National Security Adviser.
Several plain-cloth operatives have been despatched to major cities, especially in the Niger Delta, where the affected foreign countries have major economic interests.
The police and the SSS, on their part, have beefed up their presence in the Diplomatic Guard with the inclusion of undercover agents and plain-cloth officers.
Guard, specifically meant for diplomatic duties before now, was mostly manned by anti-riot policemen.
The US Embassy spokeswoman, Claudia Anyaso, had told the CNN that the security matter was of mutual concern to US and Nigerian governments and that the issue was being addressed with the help and close collaboration of the Nigeria police.
Reuters had also quoted diplomatic sources as saying that officials had received information from foreign Islamic militant channels that indicated that foreign militants posted a specific threat to the Lagos consulate.
The Director of Public Affairs of the US Consulate General, Ms Atim Enaida-George, had stated that the embassy would remain closed until the security situation improves.
She had directed all those seeking visa to go to the US embassy website for specific guidance.
The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. John Campbell, had given a hint of terrorist attacks on Nigeria when he addressed journalists on May 10, 2005.
He had disclosed that the US September 11, Commission recommended that terrorist attacks were possible in Nigeria because Osama bin Laden had called for a violent resistance to the Federal Government.
In his reaction on Saturday, the Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode said: 'I really do not know where the information that the Al Queda men were on their way to Nigeria to carry out strikes on some targets, before the embassies' closure, came from. I am not prepared to comment on anything that I knew nothing about. That, to me, in the first instance, sounds far fetched and ridiculous and that I do not think we should make people panic. I do not know anything about that and I'm not in a position to comment.
'The Nigerian government does not know the specific nature of the alleged threat. There is no basis of truth in it as far as we are concerned and we do not have any evidence to suggest, on our part, that there is any Al Queda presence in the country or that the group wanted to strike anywhere.
'We do not have such information and we are neither prepared to discuss such. It is a mere speculation.
'I can assure you that the Federal Government has taken very serious measures and precautions to ensure that the lives and property of all citizens, including foreigners, are fully protected, and that our territorial integrity is not violated.
'You can see that presently, we have an unprecedented security arrangement around the embassies; intimidating presence of our finest officers, disciplined and intelligent agents.
'We have a very effective security system, there should be no cause for alarm or panic. We should not give people undue concern.
'What is happening is nothing serious but a normal routine measure where some people said that they fear security threat. And that has been adequately taken care of as a reasonable government.
'We have our own intelligence agencies, the finest in the African continent, we also conduct our research, investigations and also have our own information system. We have done all that.
'As far as we are concerned, Nigeria is stable and secure and open for business and foreign investments.
'We have a responsible and responsive government that is accountable to the people and to God.
'We have done our research and findings. We did all this as a result of the complaints of others not our own," he stressed.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ighodalo said that the police, in collaboration with all other relevant organs, would ensure that adequate security covers were provided all the embassies both in Lagos, Abuja and all other places in parts of Nigeria where 'these countries have interests."
According to him, 'We shall ward off any threat to peace and security and would also not give room for any external threat," he said.
Ighodalo assured that there was no risk in Nigeria, adding that the country was stable.
He disclosed that there was no threat of any external aggression to warrant the closure of any of the embassies in the country, noting that Nigeria has a superb and efficient security system.
'No cause for alarm, no reason to panic, there is no cause to worry. The foreign nationals are safe and well protected.
'There won't be any security breach. It would not be allowed to happen. No room for terrorists in Nigeria.
'We have adequate security measures and have put in place effective strategies to safeguard lives and property.
'Our strategies, which you have noticed in various parts of the country, especially since the closure of the embassies, are working out fine."
He, however, would not confirm or deny the insinuation that the terrorist group, Al Queda, already had links or network in Nigeria.
According to him, 'I do not think that Al Queda has any link in Nigeria. I am not sure of that. But I am not in a position to comment on that. That is a matter for the top hierarchy to comment on."
Our correspondents who went round the consulates on Saturday in Lagos, observed that there was calm around the premises.
However, no vehicle was allowed into the American consulate, while visitors were frisked by plain-clothe agents.
And in the United States Embassy in Abuja, Nigerian Capital City, had relaxed security around its premises by noon on Saturday, hours after dozens of mobile policemen were drafted to the area to provide security cover.
In the same manner, both physical and covert security cover enhanced security around the US Embassy in Abuja.
However, the Romanian and Swiss embassies in the Federal Capital remained open for business, oblivious of the panickky security measures adopted by detachment of the Police Diplomatic Protection Squad.
When Sunday Punch visited the Mambilla stern looking and heavily armed mobile policemen were stationed at the entrance into the street, with strict instruction to turn back anybody visiting the embassy, except staffs.
When our correspondent made to walk into the street on foot earlier on Saturday, he was vigorously questioned and turned back by the policemen, who insisted that only card carrying staff of the embassy were allowed passage.
But when our correspondent retuned to the street by 2.30 pm, only three visibly relaxed mobile policemen were on guard duty.
The policemen, clearly different from the first set encountered during the first visit, only asked perfunctory questions as to the mission of our correspondent and allowed him access into the US Embassy.
An embassy official, who did not want to be named, informed Sunday Punch that, the embassy had relaxed the enhanced security measure it put in place earlier, ' because we are convinced that the threat level no longer exists around us here".
The official added that, 'What you saw earlier was just precautionary measures and as a response to what has happened in Lagos. We have not received any direct threat here".
At the Swiss Embassy, located behind ECOWAS Secretariat, stern looking and heavily armed mobile policemen, who responded to enquiries by our correspondent, went inside the premises to call a Nigeria Embassy official, who said that, they were still open for business.
'We have not responded to that development. We are still open for business. If you go to our Consular Office in Wuse 2 or the Ambassador's residence in Maitama, you can confirm what I have told you. We are open for business," the official, who did not disclose his name, informed our correspondent.
Findings by our correspondent, however, revealed that a detachment of the Police Diplomatic Protection Squad said to have been deployed to the area on Friday night, in response to the threat, were stationed a few metres from the Swiss Embassy.
Around the Romanian Embassy, a similar detachment of Police Diplomatic Protection Squad were noticed stationed about two hundred metres from it.
But a Consular official, who did not want to be named, informed our correspondent that, they are not under any threat and therefore had no need to close their mission, saying: 'We are not under any threat. As you can see, we are receiving a delegation from Romania".
Sunday Punch, June 19, 2005