THE recent discovery of an armoury of
sophisticated weapons and ammunition in the heart of the city of Kano
is a strong evidence of prevalent security lapses that have so often
paved the way for an uncontrolled inflow of illegal weapons into the
country.
The weapons, described by military authorities as “weapons of
mass destruction,” were hidden in a bunker of a building owned by a
Lebanese businessman currently said to be on the run.
Reportedly found in the armoury were
“103 packs Slap TNT dynamites (with each pack containing 16 pieces) used
in preparing explosives; 76 military hand grenades; one 60mm anti-tank
weapon; two rounds of 122mm artillery gun ammunition; and four anti-tank
mines.” There were also “21 Rocket Propelled Gun bombs; 16 RPG charges;
one RGP tube; nine pistols; one sub-machine gun; two sub-machine gun
magazines; 17 AK-47 rifles; 44 AK-47 magazines and 11, 433 rounds of
7.62mm Special and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ammunition.” They
were all traced to Hezbollah, the deadly Lebanon-based terror
organisation with notoriety for targeting Israeli and Western interests
all over the world.
No doubt, the discovery is scary in a
nation reeling under the pains inflicted by the deadly Boko Haram
terror group operating in several parts of Nigeria. Although
investigators have yet to link the weapon discovery to Boko Haram, it is
easy to see why the Islamists have been so successful in carrying out
their terror campaigns here since imported arms can easily find their
way into the country.
This is why security agencies must
move fast to investigate the arrested three Lebanese suspects – Fauzi
Fawaz, Abdullahi Tanini and Talal Roda, all naturalised Nigerians – to
find out their motives. Efforts should also be made to bring Tahir
Fadallah, who partly owns the Wonder Amusement Park and Amigo
Supermarket in Abuja, and in whose house the weapons were found, back
for questioning.
One of the disturbing aspects of the
discovery is its portrayal of Nigeria as fast becoming a playground for
international terror groups, who are finding it hard to operate in other
climes because the governments there are clamping down on them. While
our government is distracted by the political power game, determined and
motivated terror groups, bent on destroying Nigeria, are being treated
with levity and allowed to commit havoc.
In a trend that is gradually emerging
in the country, a Ukrainian cargo plane filled with sophisticated
weapons was impounded by security operatives in July 2009. Similarly, an
Iranian, Azim Aghajani, with his Nigerian accomplice (Ali Jega), was
apprehended at the Lagos port a year later for importing 13 containers
of firearms, while 15 Russians were arrested for the importation of arms
in October last year.
With some of the current suspects
repeatedly being linked to the previous illegal importations, our
security agencies need to do more to address the menace. The Federal
Government should empower the security operatives to do their job with
an unimpeded freedom, employing intelligence gathering as a key
component in the fight against terrorism.
Although the security agents claim
that the weapons discovered in Kano were stockpiled to “attack Israeli
and Western interests in Nigeria,” just as the leaders of another
foreign terror cell, Abdullahi Berende, suspected of spying for Iran in
Lagos, said after his arrest early this year, there is no doubt that, in
carrying out their attacks, they could also harm Nigerians. Nigeria
should not allow her territory to be used as a base for attacks on
foreign interests.
The Nigeria Immigration Service
should check the unfettered entry of foreigners into the country, to the
extent that illegal immigrants are taking up even artisanal jobs that
should be handled by Nigerians under our laws. The Federal Government
should redefine our national interest to ensure that those who should
not be in the country do not find their way in. For now, terror groups
are exploiting our loose foreign policy that grants easy access to
nationals from countries that are well known for sponsoring terror acts
in other countries.
There are gadgets and equipment that
could be employed to make the job of security agents easier.
Unfortunately, in a clear example of crass negligence, a scanner
installed at Seme border – the point between Nigeria and Benin Republic –
in 2006 by the Nigeria Customs Service, in collaboration with a private
operator, meant to detect weapons, and capable of examining 160 trucks a
day, has been largely left unutilised because of the laxity of the
security agencies. Government has to show seriousness by compelling the
usage of such equipment.
However, the latest attempt to
undermine Nigeria’s territorial integrity via terrorism is too closely
linked with our recent past to be termed a coincidence. The terror war
being waged by foreign elements against Nigeria is real. The Federal
Government needs to change the uncoordinated response to arms
importation into Nigeria by tackling the countries the importers
represent. It is time to re-assess our relationship with countries known
for exporting terrorism to other parts of the world.
Also, the Federal Government should
collaborate more with the judiciary and the National Assembly in the
fight against terror. The National Assembly should regularly review the
Terrorism Prevention Act of 2011 (as amended) with a view to
strengthening it to be able to hand down stiffer punishments to
convicted felons, as it is done in other climes, while the judiciary
should quickly deal with terror cases.
As for the local populace, vigilance
is important, as the foreigners, who are easily identifiable because of
their colour, will have to operate in partnership with Nigerians before
they can succeed. Nigerians should be patriotic enough to tip off the
security agencies about the nefarious activities of these foreign
terrorists and their local confederates, whose sole aim is to dismember
the country.
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