‘SSS, Army, police should treat information in confidence’
There was anxiety at the National Conference yesterday when a security alert on unnamed targets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was read to the delegates.
This is as Conference adopted the leadership’s proposal to take two days to consider and adopt a report and reduce its working hours from 6pm to 3.30pm.
The leadership said the reason for taking the two days for the remaining four reports was to allow willing delegates to comment on the reports.
The four reports include Political Parties and Electoral Matters, Devolution of Power, Energy and Political Restructuring and Forms of Government.
Shortly after the adoption of votes and proceedings for the last sittings, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), alerted his colleagues and other Nigerians to a possible terrorist attack in Abuja and other parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Ozekhome spoke under matter of urgent national importance.
The delegate, who came to the conference on the platform of Federal Government Addendum, said he received “a highly credible” information that “our enemy”, Boko Haram insurgents, planned to launch a major attack in and within the FCT.
He said his “credible source” did not say exactly where and when the attack would take place.
Ozekhome, who warned that no delegate should disregard the information, said his source was at the United Nations (UN) office in Abuja.
The source, the lawyer said, informed him that the planned attack would be heavier than the April 14 Nyanya bus stop bomb attack.
Ozekhome said he was warned to mind his movement and spread the information.
The lawyer added that his information was not meant to frighten the delegates and other Nigerians but to alert all.
But Conference Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi (rtd), did respond to the information.
The announcement may be responsible for the speedy adoption of a proposal by the leadership of the conference to change the discussion method of the reports that had not been considered.
Justice Kutigi (rtd) informed the delegates that unless the debate method was modified, the Conference might be unable to complete work on the remaining reports.
He suggested that the delegates either agree to work from 9am to 3.30pm on a straight run without lunch or work from 9am, take the usual two-hour break and close by 5.30pm to save 30 minutes.
According to him, the proposal followed the considerations that had to be given to the fasting Muslim delegates.
After some suggestions were put forward, including the retention of the existing method, the delegates agreed to the 3.30pm closing time.
Besides, while the leadership informed Muslim delegates that would want to monetize their lunch to enter their names in a register, a Christian delegate suggested that lunch should be forfeited by all delegates in solidarity with their fasting colleagues.
Also the Parish Priest of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Abuja, Rev. Innocent Jooji, advised security operatives yesterday to treat in confidence any information given to them by the public on how to tackle Boko Haram.
This, the cleric said, would build the confidence and ensure the safety of the public in reporting the activities of the sect’s members to security agencies.
Jooji addressed reporters ahead of tomorrow’s N15 billion fund raiser of the church building, which will hold at 7pm at the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja.
The cleric urged Nigerians to give vital information to security operatives because they cannot tackle Boko Haram insurgency alone without the public’s cooperation.
Keeping vital information secret would endanger the lives of Nigerians, who are willing to help, he said.
Jooji urged Boko Haram members to surrender and show their faces to enable the government implement the proposed amnesty.
The cleric said no government would give amnesty to a faceless group, like Boko Haram.
He said: “The government is doing its part. The security operatives depend on your information and my information. The problem is that if you give them the right information, can the government have confidence in those who will work on the information? Can they treat the information confidentially? If we need to curb the current killings by Boko Haram, that means all of us must be involved.
Jooji said: “With the security operatives, if they rely on information available, we will overcome this situation. Terrorism is difficult to fight and once it comes into a country, it takes a while to curb it. People who lives in local communities know who is a visitor. People who live in a particular environment may know who is who.
“Many people are willing to report their discoveries but the fear that their identity would be revealed does not propel them to report to security operatives. They are also afraid that when they report, the Boko Haram sects will be after them. Some people have decided to keep quiet about it. This fight is not only for the State Security Service (SSS), the police, the Army or the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps or other security operative but for all of us.
“Many people are talking about granting amnesty to the Boko Haram members. We do not know them. So, how can you grant amnesty to people or a group of people you do not know? They are faceless and I do not think it will be wise to grant amnesty to the faceless group called Boko Haram.
“We need peace in Nigeria. Let the Boko Haram come forward and dialogue with the government before amnesty will be granted to them.”
