Abuja — Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab has been indicted by a federal grand Jury in the United States for trying to down a transatlantic jetliner on December, 25 2009. He faces life imprisonment if convicted.
This comes as former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon asked the US to formally apologise to Nigeria for lumping it with countries that are suspected of habouring terrorists and remove the country from the terror list drawn up this week. Also, the Inspector General of Police (IG) Ogbonna Onovo insisted that Nigeria is not a haven for terrorists. He said the country has a "zero tolerance policy towards all forms of terrorism and terrorism acts."
The 23-year-old is currently being held in Milan, Michigan, after he was charged for attempting to detonate an explosive aboard Northwest/Delta Detroit-bound airline. USA Today reported that he was charged on six counts for alleged terrorism attack. The bomb which was hidden in his underpants failed to detonate and he was overpowered by other passengers when they heard a noise like firecrackers coming from his seat. But Gowon made his views known when he paid a condolence visit to former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida in Minna, Niger State.
"From all indication and even as revealed by investigations, Umaru Farouk was not influenced by Nigeria but by his stay in other countries abroad so the US should reverse their decision and make a formal apology to the entire country," he said. The former head of state stated that the US decision is "unfair, unjust and unkind". He argued that the action of AbdulMutallab who has been charged with trying to down a transatlantic jetliner on Christmas day is not enough to blacklist the country.
He stated that current situation could not continue given the "exceptional" relationship between both countries. Nigeria should not be punished for the offence of one man, he added. "The action of this unfortunate young man was condemned by not only his father, his relations but the more that 120 million Nigerians so there is no reason for the action by the US because no Nigerian is in support of his actions," he said.
He asked Nigerians to pray for the country in order to avert unfortunate incidents that would smear its image. Meanwhile, Onovo continued to defend Nigeria in a statement yesterday. A statement signed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police and Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, declared that Nigeria abhors all such activities. "The Nigerian people, Nigerian parents, Nigerian guardians, Nigerian families, Nigerian communities and the Nigerian government cannot brook terrorist acts in any shape," said the IG.
He said that although terrorism had never been an issue in the country, "it is far-sighted of the police leadership that it has established an Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which works closely with our intelligence officers all over the nation". The IG argued that ATS officers had received the best training in the world and are therefore ready and equal to the task in terms of fighting terrorism in the country.
On whether AbdulMuttallab was working in concert with some other Nigerian nationals, the statement said the "suspect was certainly working with non-Nigerians. The young man must have been brainwashed and indoctrinated abroad, not here. He has lived much of his life abroad. "Ours is a pluralistic society. Our 140 million people have long imbibed the philosophy of live-and-let-live as an article of faith." Onovo said the fact that the suspect's father, Umar Mutallab, reported his son to the US embassy confirms the attitude and philosophy of Nigerians toward acts of terror. He stated that the Nigeria Police Force is committed to peaceful co-existence through the maintenance of the rule of law and order.
"The Nigeria Police Force is committed to the tradition of peaceful and harmonious co-existence through the maintenance of law and order," he said. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday after its meeting in Abuja described the move as a disappointment and undeserving of a nation like Nigeria. Addressing State House correspondents at the end of its meeting, the Minister of Information and Communications, Prof Dora Akunyili, alongside her colleagues, Minister of Power, Lanre Babalola and the Minister of State for Information and Communications, Alhaji Ikra Bilbis, the FEC resolved that the US move could undermine good relations between both countries.
She went on to point out that Nigeria had signed and ratified 16 United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) instruments on counter-terrorism. These instruments, according to her, deal with issues of drug trafficking, money laundering, nuclear terrorism and crime.
This record, she said, is in addition to the country's role in international peacekeeping. Nigeria has expressed "deep sorrow and dismay" since the incident happened while also condemning it.
On steps taken to safeguard our airports, she disclosed that the government had ordered eight body scanners adding that they are expected to arrive in two weeks time. In addition, the Federal Airports Authority has announced the receipt of 20 metal detectors aimed at boosting security measures, she said. Asked if President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua indeed spoke to key members of the cabinet as claimed by the Chief Economic Adviser, Tanimu Yakubu, she answered in the affirmative.
Nigeria has been named by the US among "countries of interest" alongside Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Algeria, Yemen, Somalia, Libya, Lebanon and Pakistan. Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria are viewed as "state sponsors of terrorism."
Comments 1 to 5 of 12 Post a comment
It is amazing the amount of the usual and sickening self-hate and denial of a fellow Nigerian that is being posted here by other so-called 'Nigerians'? lol
Africans DID NOT invite the insanity of islam into the continent! So hating Africans in the north of the country is wrong headed!
The inimical islam of criminal invaders to Africa, IS the problem dividing Africans in Nigeria, Sudan, etc!
'mutallab' is not even an African name. The insanity that is islam WAS IMPOSED in those African lineages.
Misguided Nigerians will only succumb to 'divide and dominate', when they fail to support fellow Africans, while simultaneously seeking to rid Africa of the IMPOSED foreign religious rubbish.
The Nigerian with 'fire in the pants' is a lost and confused soul, who has been co-opted by the demons on the Arabian Peninsula.
Omugabe, for you to gleefully use the word IMPOSE demonstrates your slave mentality as well. No one imposes on a freethinking individual. If you say Nigerians are "self-hating" then it goes across all humans who have, at one point or the other, been self-critical, when they experienced or will, in the future, experience what we are currently going thru due to foreign mineral exploitation. Nigerians are critically examining themselves, which may seem like unnecessary self-flagellation to you. Nevertheless, by this process, we identify our problems, thereby find local novel solutions to them in such a way that many African darlings of the West may be blind to see and correct now. From this ashes of "self-hatred" (or brutal critical analysis) would our glory days arose down the road, "my brother."
Its so unfortunate that the youngman came true nigerian womb.He is a bad and strange seed of this country,in those days that women do give birth behind the house,if the child is bad (not significantly different from beast)such were destroyed at that spot and the mother would not be allowed to cry or morn such a child, the believe was that,if that is done such child would never come through that woman's womb again.The U.S should destroy him in such a manner that it will be a detterent to his kind.he came through nigerian womb but not nigerian blood,no true nigerin can do such a thing.
They should string him up by the balls for all I care. In fact, I am amazed that the US court system assigned this TERRORIST free legal representation when his parent could and should have foot the bill. This free legal aid allows the parent to keep their stollen wealth which is doubly unfair to the poor Nigerians made to bear the burden of the callous act of an individual that belongs to the cabal ruling the nation.
It is surprising that so much noise is being made about the national origin of this guy, rather than a focus on the issues, frustrations, and indoctrination that created this kind of evil. Terrorism is now a global phenomena. Islamic religious extremism exists alongside and is iindependent of the Alqeda movement. Nigeria is said to have over 70 million muslims, (I think they are much less: about 50million), why should anyone be surprised that some persons or sections of that group might transport the terrorism (which they have continued to unleash upon their fellow citizens within Nigeria since 1967), abroad? Eventhough the evidence in this case suggests that Farouk wasn't even influenced from Nigeria. The American Government reaction to castigate and harrass all Nigerians is typical of the race prejudice and scapegoat blame game politics that is well documented in America. Farouk offered an official excuse to cement the practice of denigration, harrassment and ill treatment of Nigerians which has been going on in Europe and America for decades.
See All Comments