To cover up their extra-judicial murder of at least seven innocent squatters at an unfinished building in the Apo District of Abuja, Nigerian security agencies are plotting to plant weapons in the building as a purported evidence that it was used for terrorist activities, multiple security sources have told PREMIUM TIMES.
Soldiers and operatives of the State Security Service had on Friday stormed the building, inhabited by homeless artisans and petty traders, and immediately began shooting at random, killing at least seven and injuring 17 others, witnesses said.
They then tried to cover up their atrocity by labelling the murdered men Boko Haram insurgents plotting an attack in Abuja. They claimed they carried out the raid to recover hidden weapons but that they were shot at shortly after they began digging up the weapons.
They are however yet to tell the world whether any of the operatives were injured or killed in the purported shootout. They are also unable so far to display the weapons they purportedly recovered from the building.
The two security agencies have come under global condemnation for the killings, and, our sources said, are now plotting fresh cover-up schemes to convince the world that the raid and the killings were done in the interest of national security.
Our sources said on Saturday night that the Army and the Department of State Security have now resolved to return to the building, plant weapons therein and then pretend to have dug out hidden weapons from there.
The weapons will then be displayed right in front of the building with journalists in attendance, our sources said.
“Our people are really embarrassed by the way the issue of this killing is turning out,” one of our sources said. “They are desperately planning a cover-up and some of us have resolved not to be part of it. They are going back to the building to plant weapons and then accuse the murdered men of having buried them there. It’s really sad but that’s what our people are planning.”
Another of our sources said the operatives that are being selected for the cover-up operation would be sworn to secrecy.
Spokesperson for the SSS, Marilyn Ogar, did not answer or return calls seeking her comments for this story.
While news of the killings and pictures of the victims spread on social media on Friday morning, the SSS released a statement saying its officials acted based on information obtained from two Boko Haram suspects, Kamal Abdullahi and Mohammed Adamu, who it claimed had earlier been arrested for terrorist activities.
“They led the security team to the uncompleted building where arms were purported to have been buried underground,” Marilyn Ogar, the SSS spokesperson said in the statement. “No sooner had the team commenced digging for the arms than they came under heavy gunfire attack by other Boko Haram elements within the area.”
But several witnesses and residents of the area have debunked the claim by the SSS. All those interviewed by PREMIUM TIMES said no one shot at the security team that stormed the building.
Unable to afford the excessively high cost of housing in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, these squatters usually gather in scores to sleep on mats in the few uncompleted buildings on the street, after returning from their daily jobs.
“The keke-NAPEP (tricycle) men that stay in the house (where the shooting occurred) are almost 100,” Abu, a construction worker in another uncompleted building on the street, told PREMIUM TIMES. ”Apart from keke-NAPEP, some also sell recharge cards act as phone chargers on the street.”
Witnesses told this paper that the owner of the house (or his representative), believed to be a top army officer, visited on Thursday morning and ordered the squatters to vacate.
“He gave us one week, one week to leave his house,” said one survivor, who declined to be named for fear he could be arrested or targeted by soldiers.
“He threatened us saying he would bring soldiers to do anything to us if we don’t leave after one week.
“But just two days later, they came to attack us,” one of the tricycle operators who used to sleep in the house cut in in Hausa. He pleaded anonymity saying he feared he could be targeted by ‘soldiers’.
Many of the residents of the building, who escaped being killed or arrested, have already fled the area. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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May the souls of the innocent fight and kill all those responsible for this inhuman act. This world is indeed wicked.
ReplyDeleteDat is d way d Nigerian security forces operate. Many pple are in prison today due to dis kind of frame up. If they succeeded in dis wicked act of theirs, we d masses will agree with tthem. May God punish them accordingly. May d souls of those murdered rest in peace
DeleteThat has been the modus operandi of our MUMU security personnel. They are quick to kill defenseless citizens and parade them as CRIMINALS later. We witness that in the killing of seven IGBO MEN & WOMEN in APO MECHANIC VILLAGE some years ago, so am not surprised at their latest plot to cover up their acts. MUMU PEOPLE.
ReplyDeleteSo how can we keep believing them when they come and say "we killed 10,20, 30 boko haram members here and there. Chances are that they did not kill an ant. God bless Nigeria !
ReplyDeleteWhere is all of these your conclusions and condemnations coming from? Because one biased journalist wrote something without proper verification, everyone is falling head long in agreement.
ReplyDeleteIt is unfortunate that people will comfortably associate and live with Bokoharam members. These BH people like their counterparts in Arab countries/mideast like to use human shields by hiding amongst the people. Sometimes these people know the terrorists are among them and continue to shield them.
Why would these BH members hijack a building or occupy a building without the permission of the owner. I am not saying it was the soldier who sent them. But it could be there was intelligent report about the illegal / BH occupants of the building made available to security agents ( Police and Military) which might have triggered the owner of the house asking them to move out. We better wait and pray that thorough investigation underway will unveil the truth. We should learn to be patience and not quick to conclusion and condemnation. Our govt and security forces need to be careful too and security agents need our support. If this is not so and we keep attacking them while risking their lives for security of this nation, they will be discouraged. Assuming there was a bomb attack which killed many people in any part of Abuja. And the story has that the security agents had the information linking the occupants of the said building to the attacks. It is you people who will be the first to condemn them for not taking action before the bomb blast. You will blame them for having the intelligent report and yet did not do anything before the blast.
On the use of gun. No sane person would use bare hand to confront a BH terrorist. How else are these agents suppose to respond to fire attack from BH? I am saying this becos many times people have asked why would the agents not catch them a live. Would you confront a gun man with bare hand? Please let look at issues objectively not from tribal or sentimental point of view. By the way many innocent souls have been destroyed by BH, and each time this happens we do not see such condemnation by you guys on BH nor the supporter/sponsors. As if those killed are not human beings, but each time the security agent counters them, some people become angry and start firing at the govt.
If you have been to Abuja before, u will understand that almost all uncompleted buildings are occupied by sqautters.
DeleteWhat we are saying is that shooting pple at sight like that is not good. If they had discovered any arms , even if it was ordinary cutlass before shooting , it would have been a different thing given the security situation in the country but there was no report of any arms discovered with them and ppl's heads rolled for nothing. Not as if we don,t appreciate the work they do , we do but let them work more carefully.
ReplyDeleteGod bless Naija!
ReplyDeleteSo, crime/terrorism combat entails shooting without arm evidence. Yet those real BH boys run unharmed and are still wrecking harvock. Don't worry, very soon, you and your family members will be a victim of this to understand what we'r trying to say.
ReplyDeleteOur security forces are not cannibals and they are not senseless. I still beleive in them, no matter the media colouration.
ReplyDeleteI and my family can never be victims of boko haram. In Jesus Amen.
ReplyDelete