Leadership (Abuja)
Esther Eziashi
5 August 2008
The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Moshe Ram, has told the Inspector General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro, of plans by Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, to attack a West African country, possibly Nigeria.
Ram, who made this claim yesterday in Abuja when Okiro paid him a courtesy visit in his office as part of his tour of embassies in Nigeria to ascertain their true security needs, said the plot was uncovered by the Israeli media.
He added that his embassy is doing all within its powers to tighten its security system in Nigeria.
The ambassador, however, assured the IGP of his cooperation in the area of training and donation of equipment to the Nigeria police to enhance their performance.
Towards this end, he extended an official invitation to Okiro to visit the head of the police in Israel "so as to learn first hand how to manage emergency situation," an area he said his country has "a wealth of experience."
Ram said: "We are in a very problematic situation today, especially the Israeli embassies abroad, because of the threats that we got from the terrorist organisation, the Hezbollah, to strike Israeli embassies in West Africa.
"Though they did not speak about a specific country but there is intelligence and information that speak about this possibility.
Ram has last Friday visited the headquarters of the State Security Service in Abuja, where he met with the Director of Operations and discussed about his fears of the said attack.
The SSS, he said, "are also aware and they are doing all in their power to ensure that anything doesn't go wrong."
"The first thing that is very important to us is for you to be informed and assist us to protect this place and to give us information. It is not something new; it is something that has happened before that the Hezbollah attack Israeli embassies in few places in the world and we don't want to give them any opportunity to do the same thing here.
"This is the reason that we need maximum help from your men to help in this situation. I mean, in the press reports that came out, they did not specify the name of the country in West Africa. They said West Africa as a whole. We know that they were not particular about Nigeria but I think that it is very feasible and might, you know, in the chain of events it might happen and eventually it can become a problem.
"I mean, we got the reports yesterday and it is retaliation for the murder of one of the Hezbollah big operators, the Ahmoniyah, which happened in February. So they are looking for what we call the soft belly, a place in which security as far as they anticipate is not so strong and probably they think that this place and there are Shiite minority in all West Africa. So they anticipate that such an operation might happen.
"I don't think that it is going to happen. I don't think that it is going to happen. If they see that everyone is ready it will deter them, I can assure you. In the past we have such experience too, but it is important to reinforce the fact that this part of the world has become a laboratory for terrorists.
"I would like to seize this opportunity, of course, we will discuss it more at length, in respect to our security here. I mean, whatever we need from your organisation is always unbelievable.
"My security officer and myself we are very happy. We are very happy. We feel that the level of security provided by the Nigerian police at the embassy is satisfactory.
"I myself, I feel very confident here and I think that in a situation where the political or global situation all over the world with a lot of threats in our hands. What to do, Israel has been exposed and is still being exposed to all kinds of threats," Ram added.
Responding, Okiro said the police are well prepared to ensure that no terrorist attack succeeds in Nigeria and assured that the government has already taken steps to ensure that the kidnapped French nationals were released without any unpleasant incident.
Okiro said: "The purpose of my coming is to find out what is the security needs of the embassy. If there are some shortcomings on the part of the Nigeria Police Force to see how we can put those shortcomings straight, tighten the loose ends and ensure that we provide you with adequate security."
Also yesterday, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Jean Michel Dumond, expressed deep worry over the kidnap of two French citizens in Port Harcourt on Saturday and implored the police to assist in securing their release unharmed.
At the Swedish Embassy, Ambassador Lars-Owe Persson, who said he was about to round up his second term as the Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, commended government for the security he has enjoyed in Nigeria.
On his part Okiro enjoined his host to spread the news to his country that the security perception of Nigeria as an unsafe country by the outside world is false.
Meanwhile, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) yesterday gave the german construction company, Julius Berger Plc a 24-hour ultimatum to shut down its operation in the federal capital city, Abuja.
Julius Berger last month shut down its operational base in Rivers and Bayelsa states, sequel to the kidnapping of two of its expatriate workers in one of the Rivers State communities.
The suspected kidnappers are demanding a N32 million ransom while the company insisted on not paying the money.
MEND spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, in an online statement made available to Leadership in Yenagoa, wondered why the company still remains in Abuja after one of its trucks was burnt down by irate people.
"If Julius Berger could decide to pull out of the Niger Delta region because of the alleged disturbances by the youths, one expected that such decision should be taken with the recent happening in Abuja," he said.
The statement reads in part: "In line with their policy of withdrawing from areas of harassment in Nigeria, this should not be a difficult directive after the incident on Friday, August 01, 2008 when one of its vehicles was burnt by an irate mob in Abuja.
"Had this same scenario occurred in the Niger Delta region, the army would have been called upon to open fire on the mob, then brand them as militants.
"MEND expects Julius Berger, a company which has benefited tremendously from the Niger Delta region, where its crude oil was used as barter payment in most cases for the building of Abuja, to apply the same policy of leaving troubled areas as it did when it recently quit the Niger Delta region.
"Failure to vacate its staff from construction sites and halt all on-going projects in the FCT, Abuja, on the deadline will result in unprecedented deadly attacks on the expatriate staff of Julius Berger inside Abuja and other parts of the country until they comply."
Meanwhile, soldiers attached to the Joint Military Task Force early yesterday invaded Agge, one of the riverine communities in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in search of the perpetrators of last Sunday's attack on the military personnel in Bomadi area of Bayelsa State.
During the attack one woman was reportedly killed by a stray bullet while two gun boats were severely damaged by the suspected militant youths. No arrest was made during the attack which saw the exchange of fire between the JTF men and the suspected militant youths.
Acting on a tip-off, the military stormed the riverine community, which is some kilometres away from the high sea, in search of the perpetrators, who are said to be having their hide-out in Agge .
Our source revealed that the soldiers invaded the community in three gun boats, shooting sporadically into the air, which threw the entire community into a state of panic.
Many residents took refuge in nearby creeks while others in the town now live in fear, as they saw the attack as a reprisal one.
The source stated that part of the community was set ablaze but another source denied the report.
When contacted, the JTF commander in the state, Lt. Col. Chris Musa, said the invasion was aimed at arresting the perpetrators of the weekend attack on JTF by a suspected militant group.
According to him, the perpetrators of the weekend attack were said to have come from Agge, adding that it was in a bid to fish them out the search was carried out.
It would be recalled that the JTF commander for the Zone, Brigadier General Wuyep Rimtip, while commenting on the various attacks, warned against any further reprisal attack on his men.
He condemned the development and warned those behind it to stop "or we would be left with no option than to pay back, which will be catastrophic."
Meanwhile, the unrelenting Niger Delta militants, yesterday once again did battle with troops of the JTF code-named Operation Restore Hope, with no fewer than four persons feared killed in the clash, which sources said lasted several hours.
Our correspondent reports that yesterday's clash took place at Agge, a boundary community between Bayelsa and Delta states.
The clash came on the heels of Saturday's clash between JTF and militants in which no fewer than two persons were reportedly feared killed. Besides, the JTF foiled another attack on oil installations in the state.
Unconfirmed sources claimed that two soldiers and two militants were feared dead in the bloody clash.
But Brig-Gen. Rimtip told our correspondent that he was yet to be briefed on the operations, but warned those behind the endless attacks of his men to stop or be ready to face dire consequences, adding that JTF is poised to rid the region of oil bunkerers and militancy.
It was gathered that the encounter between the soldiers and the militants may not be unconnected with the war declared on illegal bunkerers by JTF.
According to dependable sources, the militants had met secretly in the creeks, with a vow to embark on a circle of attacks on oil facilities and JTF locations in the creeks, citing the crippling of their illict trade by JTF as reason.
Our checks revealed that the meeting, which was said to have been chaired by a prominent militant leader, held in the creeks where they had hitherto held sway before JTF's clamp-down on their activities.
Attended by all those involved in illegal bunkering activities in the area, the members were also said to have grumbled about the new stance of their erstwhile colleagues in crime before they found their way into government.
Informed sources said the group was particularly disturbed by the rising profile of Brig-Gen. Rimtip, following his winning war against illegal bunkering in the region.
The group, whose members are said to have been lamenting their dwindling fortunes following "bad business", our correspondent gathered, had resorted to selling some of their expensive belongings to survive the hard times.
All attempts to reach the JTF commander by the bunkerers to "talk business with him" have been rebuffed so far, the sources added.
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Salaam, I am not surprised of Mr. Ram's allegation. Readers of Daily Trust may recall his undiplomatic rejoinder on Hajiya Bikisu's(mni)article,"Israel at 60:No cause for celebration." In the Rejoinder, Mr Ram Bashed out on one of our Respected Muslim Leaders, Sheikh Zakzaky.No wonder The Dipomat ignored all sense of diplomacy because he knows that they have some undergound plans against the Nigerian Muslims in general and the followers of Sheikh Zakzaky in particular. Perhaps,this allegation by his "Exellency" is a prelude to some drastic actions to be taken by the subservient Nigerian security operatives against the members of the Islamic movement under the Leadership of Sheikh Zakzaky. The recent attempt to assasinate a reknowned Muslim scholar in Katsina is an eye opener to such plans! This allegation,and inded some others to follow, would serve as guide to answer the question raised by Hajiya Bilkisu on why the mmbers of the Movement are maltreated by Government Authorities and maligned by some Muslims. Peace be unto those who follow guidance. Dauda Nalado Kano.
First of all why would the so-called terrorist attack the Nigerian soil, do you wonder why? It's so simple to answer that question because, the so called terrorist are following their oppressor, Israel everywhere they go in order to revenge for at least some of the atrocities they committed on Israel soil. By the way isn't it true that the some Israel will never find peace of mind as long as they refuse to following was sent(the true scripture) to them, isn't that true? The Israel are so sacred of the truth so they neither say nor practice it. It's all about the materialistic world and they forget all the favors that God bestowed upon then. If not for the sake of God the Jews would have been erased from the face of this planet. What did they give in thanks to their Creator, injustice among mankind, leave alone the Muslims they don't even like the Christians AND BLACK people, that you can tell from the way they portrayed black(Ham) in their holy books or maybe that's long time ago what about the way they treated the Ethiopians recently when they seek for refuge in Israel. I'm not even close to saying or exposing what this people are actually capable of. I have lived among this people and what I find out is that if they are not enslaving you in a way you are not their friend, Even if you think they are your friend believe me they are not. Few of this people uphold righteousness but many of them are silence killers. If you disagree with them on issues they are quick to call you names like terrorist, antisemitism (term used to described them before), and so on. The Nigerian should wake up and don't make this people your best friends because they are not. Did you forget how they used to provide security for the Nigeria unjust rulers. They are breeds of that nature can't you see? The USA is using them right now before they get crunched over again like always, as soon as their helper backs out they will keep making another one until the arrival of anti-Christ(it's the prophecy) do that ring a bell? WAKE UP NIGERIA WAKE UP...