•CBN, NNPC Towers, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Federal Secretariat prime targets
•As FG puts security agencies on red alert
•May cancel Independence Anniversary parade
THE terrorist Islamic group, Boko Haram, appears not willing to let go of its sinister plot to wreak a monumental havoc on the nation to avenge the military onslaught against the group, with intelligence report showing that the group has earmarked between Monday, September 26 and Saturday, October 1, 2011, when Nigeria would be celebrating its 51st independence, as the period to hit some of their selected targets.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that security agencies have unmasked plots by the group to use two brand of vehicles, a Nissan Sunny salon car with registration Abuja-CL 735 ABJ and an Audi new model with Kaduna number plate, as the cars with which to possibly carry out their next suicide attacks on ‘very important government targets’ in the Federal Capital Territory.
Among these targets, the source said, are the NNPC Towers in Abuja; Central Bank of Nigeria headquarters; the Federal Ministry of Finance; Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Army barracks and mammy markets in Abuja; Federal Secretariat Complex; the National Assembly; Supreme Court; Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Nigeria Police headquarters.
It was reliably gathered by security agencies that their target at the Police Headquarters is yet to be accomplished, even after the earlier attack in June this year.
Subsequently, Nigerian Tribune gathered that a new security alert has gone out to all military, police and other security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities and not switch off for any moment as the sect appeared determined to carry out their destardly act.
Asked if states earmarked for attack by the group particularly those in the Niger Delta should downgrade the threat by the sect, now that it had narrowed its plots to attacking government assets in Abuja, the security source said.
“It will be a big mistake as the group was very good at elements of surprise. When you begin to think all is well, that their minds were focused on a different target, that is when they strike at you.”
Also, Nigerian Tribune gathered that an army general has been assigned following controversies over the release of one of the Boko Haram’s leader, Ali Tishau, who was purportedly released to one of the military security agencies by the police from where he gained his freedom.
The source said that the government had taken a serious view of the action of the said general, as his organisation is one of those government was looking up to seriously to help it in tackling the Boko Haram menace in the country.
Meanwhile, worried by the security implications of the terrorist activities of the Boko Haram, the Federal Government may have cancelled the Independence Day parade scheduled to be hold at the Eagle Square, Abuja, on October 1.
An impeccable presidency source, who revealed this to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, at the weekend, said the action became necessary, following what was described as “bad security reports” from the nation’s security agencies.
It will be recalled that during last year’s celebration, there were two multiple bomb blasts in Abuja, shortly after the visiting foreign heads of governments and President Goodluck Jonathan arrived at the Eagle Square.
Already, a visit to the Eagle Square, venue of the celebration, showed that there was no sign of preparations at all, while the usual rehearsals by military and paramilitary organisations, which normally take place at the square, were absent.
Nigerian Tribune’s source revealed that the security agencies reportedly advised the Federal Government to allow this year’s celebrations to be on a low key and to further save Nigeria from international embarrassment that any blast on the Independence Day would cause the nation, should the Boko Haram sect carried out threats to cause further mayhem during the celebration.
It was gathered that the security agencies further based their reports on the recent incessant bombings in the country, especially the Police Force headquarters and the United Nations (UN) Abuja office, which had further proved that the Boko Haram sect was unrepentant and which would make Nigeria look unsafe to the international community.
According to the source, “no world leader will like to come to Nigeria at this particular time for any Independence Day celebration, because of the recent security challenges in the country. Up till now, we have no clue about those behind these incessant bombings and how to stop them. We don’t want to take chances, they did it last year and they will want to repeat same, going by their daring posture in recent times.”
The source could, however, not confirm whether similar parades at the state and local government levels would be affected by the cancellation at the national level.
Source: Nigerian Tribune
i can’t believe that Nigeria is stoping its indepence Celebration because of a nonsense and stupid group of people who we say the are not even trained. Please can this country get adopted with the use of technology for if there is advanced Information Technolgy this people would have been tracked down just like America while in search of Osama Benladin and his co-associates.
how long shall our country run away from their fears why not stand to it . Are we realy stop thie celebration because of the so called threat by the bokoharams .if we realy quit d celebration for this year it simply means we are giving them room for more threats but if we stand up to them and jst increase the security definite they will knw we dnt care abt their fucking threats that we can always outshine their so called threat but how are my sure some of our leaders are not involved with this boko stuff
From where the security reports come? Who sourced the information? How can the attack be effected? Please, be objective in your job.
So our bloved country is going 4rm independence 2 slavery? Dis is absolute nonsense! How were d intelligence reports gotten? How many have being arrested n custody? D future is very bleak,these are signs of impending danger 4 d country nicknamed ‘NIGERIA’ Pls we cant afford 2 stop our independence celebration-o!
Does it now mean that Boko Haram is now too powerful that even the Federal government is afraid of them?If the Independence celebrations is to be cancelled,the signal it is sending to Nigerians and indeed the international community is that Nigeria is no longer a safe place and I wonder the implications it will have on our already dwindling economy.The F.G should sit up to its sworn responsibility of protecting the lives and properties of Nigerians.We are constantly loosing faith in the Government’s ability to make Nigeria a safe place for all
I cannot believe that our dear country has been reduced to this. An idle man is the devil’s workshop. from whatever angle you wish to view it from Unemployment, insecurity pores boundaries and check point is to be blamed for this. But wait a minute are we concluding that Boko haram is more powerful than The military put together? God Safe us!