[Nigerian Tribune] A Boko Haram... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality...
suspect, on Tuesday, told a panel of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) investigating the alleged extra judicial killing of some people who are squatting in an uncompleted building in Apo area of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Abuja, that members of the sect were meeting in the uncompleted building before he was locked away
Drop the rod and step away witcher hands up!
The suspect, Mohammed Adamu, who made the confession when members of the commission visited the uncompleted building, where eight people were allegedly killed on September 20, 2013, revealed that the group had planned to attack government institutions in Abuja before they were arrested.
Adamu added that one Suleiman, who is on the lam, is the leader of the sect in Abuja and that they met three times in a week in the uncompleted building to plan how they will defend their religion.
He also revealed that the members met between 8.00 p.m. and 11.00 p.m. daily.
Speaking after the examination of the site, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Professor Bem Angwe, said "the commission will conclude its public hearing at the end of the month and will make its findings public adding that the public hearing will continue at its headquarters where more testimonies will be taken."
The Nigerian Army had on December 22, 2013 defended the killing of some eight persons during a military operation at Apo District of the Federal Capital Territory, on September 20.
The dear departed and scores of others who were grievously injured in the operation were described by the military as Boko Haram suspects.
Appearing before the panel then, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, who was represented by Commander, Brigade of Guards Nigeria Army, Major Gen Emmanuel Atewe, told the Human Rights panel that the incident was an isolated case and was unfortunate.
He said the army acted promptly to avert what would have amounted to collateral damage in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
A non-government organization, Global Rights and the National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It's headquartered in Belgium. That sez it all....
MORAS) had jointly filed a petition before the NHRC, urging it to probe the incident.
He explained that the Apo incident was part of an ongoing military operation to rid the FCT of suspected Boko Haram members and ensure peace and stability in the country.
The army chief said the operation in Apo was sequel to a report from the Department of State Security (DSS) alleging a planned attack by members of the Boko Haram on Abuja.
According to him: "Between 18 and 19th of September, two persons were arrested in Abuja and they made useful confessions that there existed cache of arms hidden at Apo Cemetery to be used in a planned attack."
He also stated that it was based on the confessional statements of the suspects that the military went to the cemetery to uncover the weapons.
"It was in the night, the area was bushy and we could not navigate the cemetery and the suspects could not identify the actual spot where the weapons were buried. It was at that point the suspects said their leader, one Suleiman, if arrested would show the spot where the ammunition was hidden," he added.
He further explained that the suspects said Suleiman was residing in an uncompleted building in Apo, adding: "It was on that premise that the team cautiously moved to the uncompleted building to arrest Suleiman. But unfortunately, as troops were deploying to cordon the building, the fire came; first it was a single shot before rapid shots followed. Under self defence, the troops returned fire."
He also added that the DSS had cogent information on a planned attack on FCT, stressing that the operation was necessary to avert the plan.
"The military personnel operating in FCT are well trained in handling arms and have exercised restraint in the discharge of their duties. We have no reason to kill anybody dastardly or act under provocation.
"Apo is an isolated case and very unfortunate, the security agents acted proactively to prevent collateral damage that may have taken place in Abuja if the planned attack had taken place.
"The adversaries did firearm movement, they were firing as they escaped, a loaded magazine was found and from our records, it does not belong to the military," Ihejirika said.
However,
the way to a man's heart remains through his stomach...
the Army hinted that Suleiman is still on the lam and the cache of arms at the Apo cemetery undiscovered.
"We have carried out 153 operations successfully, made arrests and did not shoot anybody."