Posted by From Kola Ologbondiyan and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja on
Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) over the weekend in Abuja paraded four Indians suspected to be terrorists.
Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) over the weekend in Abuja paraded four Indians suspected to be terrorists.
Comptroller General of NIS, Joseph Udeh, who paraded the men before newsmen said the suspects who were arrested in Lagos possessed fake ID cards claiming to be expatriate workers in some unnamed companies.
Udeh who gave their names as Baljeck Singh, Dharmui Singh, Navdeep Singh and Hardeep Singh said that upon investigation, his men discovered that the aliens were not staff of the companies they claimed they worked for in Nigeria, prompting the Immigration authorities to effect their arrest.
The Immigration boss who said the Service has been on the alert over terrorism said the suspects who claimed they were heading for Austria are being quizzed to know exactly the motive for their intended trip.
"Not failing to rule out terrorist intentions," Udeh maintained that the Service has continued to strengthen entry control mechanisms as the nation would not sit back in this era of global threat to security.
In a relatd development, Senate President Ken Nnamani, has said 'in line with developments in international security norms," Nigeria is considering 'an anti-terrorism bill to align with the global consensus" against terrorist acts.
Nnamani, who stated this at the 2nd World Congress Conference of Speakers of Parliaments in New York, USA, weekend, disclosed that 'the secretariat of Nigerian parliament is preparing reports from Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) conferences and working committees to guide us to enact laws that protect human security in a globalising world."
According to him, 'the problems of chronic poverty and terrorism in the world cannot be solved in both global and local terms if we do not whole-heartedly embrace multilateralism. We have shared experience with parliaments from African and non-African countries."
'In the context of the aggravating global poverty and insecurity arising from inequalities and democratic deficits in the global political system, it is commendable that not only is the IPU being repositioned, but importantly also, the United Nations is proposing significant reforms, especially of the Security Council, to better address these global challenges.
'Granting two permanent seats to Africa is a good start, and recognition of our increasing involvement in the promotion of world peace. The challenge before this Assembly is to strengthen the relationship between the United Nations, its agencies and national parliaments, so that the voice of the unheard could be heard," he added.
Meanwhile, the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr John Campbel has urged Nigerians to rise against terrorist activities all over the world.
He spoke in Abuja yesterday while laying a wreath at the foot of the Unfinished Bridge at the Yar'Adua Center to mark the fourth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the US.
Campbell noted that "the bridge stands as a reminder for the need to continue the struggle for unity, fairness, and social harmony"
Describing the monument in Nigeria as a most fitting edifice for honouring all the victims of terrorist attacks, Campbell said that although three of the overall 2,830 victims of the world trade center attacks were Nigerians, events around the world make it clear that truly, "the world shares values that are universal"
He said "our commemoration here today and others like it is not just about America or Americans. It is about all of us".
"At ground zero, in New York city, clearance and plans for construction have begun for a new world trade center and a memorial park to 9/11 victims.
Already, a memorial wall has been erected at ground zero to honour international victims, 500 from more than 90 countries died at ground zero… there were 189 killed in the attack on Pentagon and in a field in Pennsylvania, another 45 died …at the Pentagon, a memorial interfaith chapel has been built at the crash site. In Shanksville, Pennsylvania plans have been approved for a memorial park called the Crescent of Embrace"
Noting that the countless citizens around the world are winning the fight against terrorism, through the momentum of millions of acts of decency and kindness, the American ambassador said "the world stands against terrorism because terrorism, in the real sense of the world, is a crime against humanity. Events like 9/11 and the recent attacks in London where there were also Nigerian victims made clear that the world shares values that are universal… so this is really about all of us".