Nigerian Army uncovers plot to attack foreign interests

The Nigerian Army yesterday in Kano said they had uncovered plot by foreign terrorists linked with Lebanese Hezbollah fighters to attack Western and Israeli interests in the country.

It said that seized weapons from three Lebanese men on Tuesday might have had their origin with the group.

It will be recalled that different types of weapons concealed in a bunker built inside a bungalow located on Gaya Road in Bompai Estate, Kano, were discovered by security agents on Wednesday. Some of the items seized from the bunker include dynamite for explosives, several AK47 rifles, rocket propelled-guns, anti-tank mines, artillery weapons and hand grenades.

Addressing newsmen, Commander of 3 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Kano, Brig.-Gen. Ilyasu Abbah, said the suspects, Abdallah Hassan Fadallah, Mustapher Fawaz and Abdullahi Tigani, had been moved to Abuja for further investigations by security agents. The Army chief recalled that one of the suspects, Tigani, was once arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport over undeclared $60,000 on his way to Lebanon, saying he was an Abuja-based businessman.

The security chief added that the dangerous weapons intercepted from the home of the suspects had link with the Hezbollah, a military and political group which is considered a terrorist organisation by the United States.

The suspects were quoted as admitting during preliminary investigations that the weapons were meant to fight Israeli and Western interests in the country.

He also noted that the construction of bunker inside a residential building to conceal weapons of mass destruction confirmed the suspects’ ulterior motive.

Abbah said: “On May 28, 2013, a combined team of the JTF involving the NA of the 3 Brigade here in Kano and the Kano State DSS conducted a thorough search of this house located at No 3 Gaya Road off Bompai Road, Kano belonging to one Abdul Hassan Taher Fadlalla, a Lebanese national who is currently out of the country.

“After painstaking search of the whole premises, the search team uncovered an underground bunker in the master bedroom where a large quantity of assorted weapons of different types and calibre were recovered.

“The bunker was specially constructed for this purpose. It is worth mentioning to say that the weapons include anti tank weapons, rocket propelled guns, anti tank/anti personnel mines among other dangerous weapons.

“All the weapons and ammunition recovered were properly concealed with several layers of concrete and placed in coolers, drums and bags neatly wrapped. “These discoveries were not accidental but the outcome of an ongoing robust counter terrorism investigation by the Department of the State Services, Abuja in the past several months.

The investigation also confirms the existence of a Hezbollah foreign terrorist cell in Nigeria. “Consequently, the DSS on May 16, 2013 arrested one Mustapha Fawaz, the co-owner of the popular Amigo Supermarket, as well as the Wonderland Amusement Park in Abuja.

“Thus, his arrest and confession unveiled other members of the foreign terrorists network, which led to the interception of one member of the syndicate named Abdullah Tahini, a Lebanese national at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport with undeclared amount of $60,000 on him en route Beirut.

“Thereafter on May 26, 2013 one Talal Roda, also a Lebanese with Nigerian Passport was arrested in this same house. “All those arrested have confessed to have undergone Hezbollah terrorist training and further implicated one Fauzi Fawad, also a co-owner of Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park. However, the fellow is now at large.

“The arms and ammunition were targeted at facilities of Israel and Western interest in Nigeria; however, the security agencies are making frantic efforts to unveil the true situation. At the end of investigation, all those involved will be prosecuted.”

The Army commander used the occasion to appeal to members of the public to always cooperate with the security agents in the campaign to free the state from the activities of terrorists.

Kano State Director of State Security Service, SSS, Bassey Etang, said it was impossible to link the weapons with the Boko Haram Islamic sect until investigation on the issue was concluded.

“We cannot say how long the weapons have been in the bunker, the rust you see is as a result of the conditions they have been exposed to, but are still serviceable. Again, we cannot link them with Boko Haram, until the conclusion of investigation, but we suspect such group like Hezbollah can have link with Boko Haram,” Etang said.

In a related develop ment, the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, in Abuja yesterday confirmed the arrest of five Nigeriens and two Chadians which it said were among the fleeing insurgents apprehended by the Special Forces.

According to the DHQ, “The seven were among the nine arrested at Tumbu Gini, a border town with Chad, as they tried to cross the border to Chad.” The DHQ said the man suspected to be leading the group however escaped with gunshot wounds. Defence authorities also said that the Boko Haram sect was seeking assistance from terror cells in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Confirming the development yesterday, Defence authorities in Abuja said it had uncovered attempts by insurgents and their collaborators to push into the public domain, “questionable and manipulated messages meant to misinform the public.”

Defence spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said the messages contained “calls for support from Afghanistan and Pakistan as well as other cohorts of the insurgents are clearly a confirmation of the level of pressure which has been brought to bear on the insurgents.” He added that there was no cause for alarm “as the insurgents are actually in flight, necessitating their call for help from their foreign allies.”

He added: “The operation to put an end to the activities of insurgents is continuing and in line with overall plans for the nation’s security.” Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday held a meeting with security chiefs to review the security situation in the county.

This would be the first time Jonathan would be meeting with the security chefs after he declared emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states on May 14 and also ordered the deployment of troops to the three states to check the violent and deadly activities of the Boko Haram sect.

The meeting which lasted for several hours at the Presidential Villa was attended by Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Saad Ibrahim; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Azubuike Ihejirika; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh and the Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba. Though the service chiefs declined to speak with journalists after the meeting, it was gathered that the issue of the emergency rule in the three North East states was discussed.