Army Chief, Azubuike Ihejirika, told a House of Representatives committee that soldiers merely returned fire after coming under attack, a claim that has been roundly rejected by witnesses and survivors of the attack, and residents of the area.
The House committee on Public Safety and National Security opened an investigation into the killing on Thursday, ahead of a separate probe planned by the Senate.
The men, many of them artisans, operators of Keke tricycle, and hawkers, were killed in an early Friday morning raid on the building near a sprawling quarters where members of the National Assembly live.
The SSS had earlier claimed that the joint operation with the Army followed a tipoff that cache of arms was buried in the building, and security personnel sought to “dig” them out.
The service claimed security personnel arrived the building under a hail of bullets from the men they succeeded in killing. Its first statement after the attack did not admit that operation ended in bloodshed.
But several witnesses, survivors and residents of the area have long contested those claims in interviews with PREMIUM TIMES, accusing the military personnel of executing unarmed and innocent men.
Worse, the SSS and the army have yet to produce the weapons recovered from the building. Security sources told PREMIUM TIMES there had been plans to plant weapons in the building; a plan that was put paid to after the report was published.
Lawmakers have warned that regardless of the men’s membership of the violent sect, they should have been arrested and prosecuted, and not killed in a manner many believe was an extrajudicial murder of innocent people.
“We could not sleep that night and we were even scared to come out the following morning. It is not acceptable for the SSS to shoot people whether they are Boko Haram or Keke NAPEP (tricycle) operators. They should first be arrested and investigated,” said Clever Ikisikpo (PDP-Bayelsa), whose block in Zone E of the Legislators Quarters is about 100m from the scene of the incident.
The army has faced several allegations of killing innocent people and deploying scorched-earth tactics in its pursuit of the Boko Haram fighters.
Thursday’s hearing at the House of Reps was conducted behind closed doors, and the senate has made clear it would also carry out a secret hearing.
Mr. Ihejirika told journalists after the meeting that the operation was a success as it pre-empted attack in parts of Abuja. He also affirmed earlier position that the security men were first attacked by the suspects before they were shot dead.
“I appeared before the House Committee on Public Safety and National Security on the joint operation conducted by the Directorate of State Security Services and a unit of the Nigeria Army,” he told reporters.
“We briefed them and informed them of the mission which was to recover arms and weapons and make arrests. We also briefed them on the fact that on approach to the area, the security men were fired at and they had to return fire and also make arrests.”
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed, said he was not informed about the operation as the Chief Security Officer of the city. He however said he took responsibility for it.
He said there was no decision yet to demolish the building as the outcome of the investigation should be awaited. He however said buildings that were not developed within stipulated time will no longer be tolerated within the city.
“We will ensure that all buildings that have exceeded the two-year period, approved for building, are demolished. If we cannot demolish, we will make it a Police Post. This time around, we will take a definite action,” he said.
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What a country,,,, Nigerian Media with their deception.... If this people happens to be BH members, Still this Media will Condemn our Security for lack of Intelligent response....
ReplyDeleteWe have lost over 6,000 innocent Soul's,,, Boko H members operate just this way,, they stay in uncompleted buildings after their cover up daily business,,, We Shouldn't tolerate squatters before they launch an attack on innocent people...
I WILL NEVER BLAME OUR SECURITY MEN ON THIS,, THEY ARE ONLY BEING SECURITY CONSIOUS...
I WILL NEVER HATE ANYBODY BECAUSE HE IS FROM THE NORTH,MY GOD WILL NOT BE HAPPY WITH ME IF I DO THAT,, AS WE ALL KNOW,,,NOT ALL MUSLIMS ARE BOKO HARAM,,BUT ALL BOKO HARAMS ARE MUSLIMS....
AM SAYING THIS BECAUSE OF THOSE IGNORANT,,EDUCATED ILLITERATES Northerners in this forum.. (((Taurani, khalid,etc)))
How can unarmed people fight armed soldiers? Mr ihejirika is obviously lying. I blame Boko Haram for all these. It's such a pity. May their souls rest in peace.
ReplyDelete@emex:Just listen to yourself careful proffessor emex,that stupid and a trash above that an idiot like you called “a write-up“ make you not only a very BIG FOOL. It‘st a display of hypocrise and it also make you a hypocrite that you are. Anywaysha prof emex,it‘s so early to start all this rubbish talk. I will surely get back to you later in the day,untill then. Stupid!
ReplyDeleteWhen the security officers do their Job people out of sentiment will complain. When they fail to take proactive steps and there is security breach Nigerians will call for their heads. By the way those saying hat these are innocent people how did they arrive at that conclusion? No body carries the logo of terrorists and it is for security officials to investigate and act. In other developed nations that is how it is done. In some cases they Carry out a sting operation.The problem of Nigeria is that of sentiment.
ReplyDeleteA policeman once told my husband at a police check point after benin that he would set my husband up,plant gun in our car and detain us as armed robbers if we don't meet their demand. On this note, I don't trust our police or the words that come out from their mouth. They wolves in sheep clothing. They would do anything to get out of a situation. Government know what to do if they really want to know the truth. A proper forensic investigation should be carried out.
ReplyDelete.@ emex, i see how reasonable and educated you are for applauding our security operative's for killing innocent Nigerian. I pray you fall victim to their extra judicial activities that will make you appreciate them the more.
ReplyDeleteI doff my hat to u Khalid for dat short n precise response to one of d more hopeless cases of our time..n also a BIG amen to d prayer dat may he fall victim to such killings...it'll be one less fool to worry about...
DeleteIts our culture to give a dog a bad name just to kill the dog, there's one way to get out of extrajucial killing by soldiers he is an armed robber or BH, I just feel sorry for this country coz the pple we waste our tax payers money on turn around to kill us.
ReplyDeleteHOW DO THE BH AND SECURITY FIREARMS SOUND? AN ANSWER COULD HELP.
ReplyDeleteHmm! NA, I do not believe this crap. If one of U had disguised as one of those SQUATTERS, they wld have been arrested ans not SHOT at. So IHEJIRIKA tell this story to Ur VILLAGE CHIEF.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I'm pleased to see TARAUNI, KHALID, EMEX & one ANONYMOUS at WAR. At least EL-MATOSKY go rest from their mouth.
IHEJIRIKA U dey LIE. LIE LIE!
Now I have most of you all commenting and accusing the govt and security agents cos of sentiments. One NASS member was saying the SSS or security agent would have arressted them before anything else. My people is this not stupidity? How can you arrest an enemy firing you with barehand? You see how far sentiments can take Nigeria. Yesterday someone was asking people in this forum to make comments on the issue of the building belonging to Obasanjo's sister but only three or four did. Even so many of these few supported the security operation but querried why OBJ was brought into the matter. They ended up tagging the article to be political for mentioning OBJ in the building. So the article as the time I left the forum yesterday was not responded to as we have today. I believe the reason why many did shy away was because that article did not favour their interest, not because it was not worth commenting. Today I believe, many of those who could not make comments yesterday probably including those who were "supporting" the action becos OBJ's sister was mentioned, are now condemning the govt agents. Forgetting that these security agents are human beings with blood flowing in their systems, who have their lives to defend too. I wonder how many of you will try to arrest or confront an armed terrorist with barehand?
ReplyDeleteToday we are heard BH was involved or linked in attack in Kenya. And instead of applauding the security agents for working earlier to root out and avoid potential bloodbath by BH in Abuja, you are here sympathising and supporting with BH and their cohort in NASS. You allow sentiments to becloud your senses of reasoning. If this action was not taken, and later it happened attack was carried out in Abuja with many lives lost. You guys will turn back and blame the security agents for having tipoff and never did anything about it. This has happened so many times here in Nigeria, a case was the attack by BH in a Police Barack, lives were lost and properties damaged and weapons taken away by BH. We learnt that the top Police hierachy got the intelligent report and did not do anything about it. In another one, we heard was the bombing in Abuja, story had it that the then NSA got the Intelligent report, but did not do anything with it. We saw what happened in that attack. Many lives were lost. Another was the one in Military barrack in Kaduna Jaji, the GOC in charge was said to have knowledge of it he did not do anything and these blood thirsty BH struck, you know the losses. May be many of you here attacking the Security Agents celebrated the success of those attacks by BH? So the question is how do you want GEJ to do this fight? Earlier run he said he did not want to you force, you Nigerian started calling him weakling. The insult got to the peak when OBJ asked him to use force as he did in Odi Bayelsa and Zakibiam in Benue. Which he refused, cos he knows when army comes in, there will definitely be casaulties, including innocent people, his rejection of the advice was received by Nigerians with fierce criticism. That he lacks the will power to take decisive action against BH and the sponsors. Today he has yielded to your call to use force and this is checking the activities of these BH as much as Nigerian capability can go, yet you people have come again to attack and criticise the effort of the govt. Tell me, even in USA operations in Mideast - Afghanistan, Pakistan, Irag to mention a few. Haven't "Ordinary people" often been caught in the crossfire and died? We hear and see it everyday in news. In most of the occasions these ordinary people killed by USA forces did not shield nor living with the terrorists. Yet many died in the crossfire or assult in air or land despite USA military intelligence and sophistication.
ReplyDeleteIn Nigeria when OBJ ordered attack of Odi, story had that it was only children and old people who were killed. Were these ones Militants? No. So do we say, that OBJ and his security apparatus targetted Children and Old people? Again, I personnaly will say no, because when people live among terrorists/criminals whether they are aware or not. There is always and unaviodable risk of being caught in crossfire, whenever there is an operation to root these evils out. People need to be careful the neighbours around and/or with them. So let support the effort of the govt and not attack them in every occassion, allow investigation to finish. There is no blood greater than the other, ongoing is the killing of innocent nigerians by BH, which include school children, pastors, travellers etc. Yet we do not join voices to condemn and discourage this as we do whenever govt security launches attack on BH. Does this mean majority of us support the onslaught by these devils? These attacks on govt based on sentiment is counter productive, because BH will take it as giving them support by nigerians. Thank you and God bless Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteConcerned Nigerian...
ReplyDeleteNow I have most of you all commenting and accusing the govt and security agents cos of sentiments. One NASS member was saying the SSS or security agent would have arressted them before anything else. My people is this not stupidity? How can you arrest an enemy firing you with barehand? You see how far sentiments can take Nigeria. Yesterday someone was asking people in this forum to make comments on the issue of the building belonging to Obasanjo's sister but only three or four did. Even so many of these few supported the security operation but querried why OBJ was brought into the matter. They ended up tagging the article to be political for mentioning OBJ in the building. So the article as the time I left the forum yesterday was not responded to as we have today. I believe the reason why many did shy away was because that article did not favour their interest, not because it was not worth commenting. Today I believe, many of those who could not make comments yesterday probably including those who were "supporting" the action becos OBJ's sister was mentioned, are now condemning the govt agents. Forgetting that these security agents are human beings with blood flowing in their systems, who have their lives to defend too. I wonder how many of you will try to arrest or confront an armed terrorist with barehand? Today we are heard BH was involved or linked in attack in Kenya. And instead of applauding the security agents for working earlier to root out and avoid potential bloodbath by BH in Abuja, you are here sympathising and supporting with BH and their cohort in NASS. You allow sentiments to becloud your senses of reasoning. If this action was not taken, and later it happened attack was carried out in Abuja with many lives lost. You guys will turn back and blame the security agents for having tipoff and never did anything about it. This has happened so many times here in Nigeria, a case was the attack by BH in a Police Barack, lives were lost and properties damaged and weapons taken away by BH. We learnt that the top Police hierachy got the intelligent report and did not do anything about it. In another one, we heard was the bombing in Abuja, story had it that the then NSA got the Intelligent report, but did not do anything with it. We saw what happened in that attack. Many lives were lost. Another was the one in Military barrack in Kaduna Jaji, the GOC in charge was said to have knowledge of it he did not do anything and these blood thirsty BH struck, you know the losses. May be many of you here attacking the Security Agents celebrated the success of those attacks by BH? So the question is how do you want GEJ to do this fight?
Concerned Nigerian...contd
ReplyDeleteEarlier run he said he did not want to you force, you Nigerian started calling him weakling. The insult got to the peak when OBJ asked him to use force as he did in Odi Bayelsa and Zakibiam in Benue. Which he refused, cos he knows when army comes in, there will definitely be casaulties, including innocent people, his rejection of the advice was received by Nigerians with fierce criticism. That he lacks the will power to take decisive action against BH and the sponsors. Today he has yielded to your call to use force and this is checking the activities of these BH as much as Nigerian capability can go, yet you people have come again to attack and criticise the effort of the govt. Tell me, even in USA operations in Mideast - Afghanistan, Pakistan, Irag to mention a few. Haven't "Ordinary people" often been caught in the crossfire and died? We hear and see it everyday in news. In most of the occasions these ordinary people killed by USA forces did not shield nor living with the terrorists. Yet many died in the crossfire or assult in air or land despite USA military intelligence and sophistication.
In Nigeria when OBJ ordered attack of Odi, story had that it was only children and old people who were killed. Were these ones Militants? No. So do we say, that OBJ and his security apparatus targetted Children and Old people? Again, I personnaly will say no, because when people live among terrorists/criminals whether they are aware or not. There is always and unaviodable risk of being caught in crossfire, whenever there is an operation to root these evils out. People need to be careful the neighbours around and/or with them. So let support the effort of the govt and not attack them in every occassion, allow investigation to finish. There is no blood greater than the other, ongoing is the killing of innocent nigerians by BH, which include school children, pastors, travellers etc. Yet we do not join voices to condemn
From Concerned Nigerian...
ReplyDeleteNow I have most of you all commenting and accusing the govt and security agents cos of sentiments. One NASS member was saying the SSS or security agent would have arressted them before anything else. My people is this not stupidity? How can you arrest an enemy firing you with barehand? You see how far sentiments can take Nigeria. Yesterday someone was asking people in this forum to make comments on the issue of the building belonging to Obasanjo's sister but only three or four did. Even so many of these few supported the security operation but querried why OBJ was brought into the matter. They ended up tagging the article to be political for mentioning OBJ in the building. So the article as the time I left the forum yesterday was not responded to as we have today. I believe the reason why many did shy away was because that article did not favour their interest, not because it was not worth commenting. Today I believe, many of those who could not make comments yesterday probably including those who were "supporting" the action becos OBJ's sister was mentioned, are now condemning the govt agents. Forgetting that these security agents are human beings with blood flowing in their systems, who have their lives to defend too. I wonder how many of you will try to arrest or confront an armed terrorist with barehand? Today we are heard BH was involved or linked in attack in Kenya. And instead of applauding the security agents for working earlier to root out and avoid potential bloodbath by BH in Abuja, you are here sympathising and supporting with BH and their cohort in NASS. You allow sentiments to becloud your senses of reasoning. If this action was not taken, and later it happened attack was carried out in Abuja with many lives lost. You guys will turn back and blame the security agents for having tipoff and never did anything about it. This has happened so many times here in Nigeria, a case was the attack by BH in a Police Barack, lives were lost and properties damaged and weapons taken away by BH. We learnt that the top Police hierachy got the intelligent report and did not do anything about it. In another one, we heard was the bombing in Abuja, story had it that the then NSA got the Intelligent report, but did not do anything with it. We saw what happened in that attack. Many lives were lost. Another was the one in Military barrack in Kaduna Jaji, the GOC in charge was said to have knowledge of it he did not do anything and these blood thirsty BH struck, you know the losses. May be many of you here attacking the Security Agents celebrated the success of those attacks by BH? So the question is how do you want GEJ to do this fight?
Concerned Nigerian...contd
ReplyDeleteEarlier run he said he did not want to you force, you Nigerian started calling him weakling. The insult got to the peak when OBJ asked him to use force as he did in Odi Bayelsa and Zakibiam in Benue. Which he refused, cos he knows when army comes in, there will definitely be casaulties, including innocent people, his rejection of the advice was received by Nigerians with fierce criticism. That he lacks the will power to take decisive action against BH and the sponsors. Today he has yielded to your call to use force and this is checking the activities of these BH as much as Nigerian capability can go, yet you people have come again to attack and criticise the effort of the govt. Tell me, even in USA operations in Mideast - Afghanistan, Pakistan, Irag to mention a few. Haven't "Ordinary people" often been caught in the crossfire and died? We hear and see it everyday in news. In most of the occasions these ordinary people killed by USA forces did not shield nor living with the terrorists. Yet many died in the crossfire or assult in air or land despite USA military intelligence and sophistication.
In Nigeria when OBJ ordered attack of Odi, story had that it was only children and old people who were killed. Were these ones Militants? No. So do we say, that OBJ and his security apparatus targetted Children and Old people? Again, I personnaly will say no, because when people live among terrorists/criminals whether they are aware or not. There is always and unaviodable risk of being caught in crossfire, whenever there is an operation to root these evils out. People need to be careful the neighbours around and/or with them. So let support the effort of the govt and not attack them in every occassion, allow investigation to finish. There is no blood greater than the other, ongoing is the killing of innocent nigerians by BH, which include school children, pastors, travellers etc. Yet we do not join voices to condemn and discourage this as we do whenever govt security launches attack on BH. Does this mean majority of us support the onslaught by these devils? These attacks on govt based on sentiment is counter productive, because BH will take it as giving them support by nigerians. Thank you and God bless Nigeria.
EL MATOSKY, thank u, uv said the truth ihejirika is a big lier he just want to do that, so that he can gain from gov't pocket. (mohanco)
ReplyDeleteEL MATOSKY, thank u, uv said the truth ihejirika is a big lier he just want to do that, so that he can gain from gov't pocket. (mohanco)
ReplyDeleteEL MATOSKY, thank u, uv said the truth ihejirika is a big lier he just want to do that, so that he can gain from gov't pocket. (mohanco)
ReplyDeleteEL MATOSKY, thank u, uv said the truth ihejirika is a big lier he just want to do that, so that he can gain from gov't pocket. (mohanco)
ReplyDelete