Azuka said they have not seen the arrested men but they presumed that the students were nabbed when they went to have a wider consultation in their field of study. The Nigerian suspects who are under investigation by the Malaysian security agency, were arrested alongside eight other suspects from Jordan, Syria and Yemen.
He also said the Nigerian ambassador in Malaysia was working around the clock to discuss the matter with the Inspector General of Police as well as with the Malaysian Interior and Foreign Ministers.
The Australian newspaper Sydney Morning Herald) reported yesterday that the terrorism suspects detained in Malaysia are believed to be linked to the Nigerian student responsible for the botched Christmas Day plane bombing near Detroit.
It quoted Malaysian officials as saying they arrested the 10, including nine foreigners, for "acts of terrorism" and that they were members of an international terror outfit tracked down in cooperation with foreign intelligence groups.
The government-linked New Straits Times said the 10, including several Nigerians, were linked to Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who allegedly tried to detonate explosives on the Northwest Airlines plane approaching Detroit.
"It was learnt that foreign anti-terrorism agencies informed Malaysian authorities that the 10 were linked to Abdulmutallab and that they were in Malaysia," said the paper. The newspaper did not cite any sources for its front-page report. Malaysian police Chief Musa Hassan refused to confirm or dismiss the report. He said, "I cannot reveal anything, it's still under investigation. I am not denying anything."
Malaysian Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said ON Wednesday that the 10 were being held under the Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows for indefinite detention without trial.
Source: Daily Trust
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