Nigeria: Terrorism - Two Students Arrested in Malaysia

Two Nigerians who are pursuing their Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees at the Islamic University of Malaysia were arrested by the Malaysian government yesterday on suspicion of belonging to a terrorist group. Malam Muhammad Azuka, a staff of the Nigerian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia told the BBC Hausa Service that the students were apprehended on Wednesday but that the Malaysian authorities have promised to brief embassy officials today about the suspects' full identity.

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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Posted: at 1-02-2010 10:08 AM (14 years ago) | Addicted Hero

they sent them outside d country 4 them to acquire advance knowledge, so dat dey will use dat knowledge to develop nigeria more, instead dey are takin lesson in terrorism spoiling nigeria name d more, isn't bad enough dat we are rating number 6 in d world most corrupt country!! may God help us

Posted: at 1-02-2010 10:49 AM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac

HELL NO! nt another bad news frm ths God forsaking people again! . why did we keep disgracing ourselves like ths? ths boys sef...

Posted: at 1-02-2010 10:55 AM (14 years ago) | Upcoming

any bagger whey do bad thing for yanki go dey claim Niaja very soom even albino 4rm afganistan or yemen go do something say him be naija

Posted: at 1-02-2010 12:20 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Obama is right. At least a president that knows how to protect his people. Our presidents will hear this and do nothing about it waiting for the matter to solve it self. See Nigerians in China being killed for nothing, Nigerian passport being seen by other countries immigration as a tissue paper, steriotyping all Nigerians.......................... Wake up from the sick bed man. You have a lot to do. And stop lazying around

Posted: at 2-02-2010 07:56 AM (14 years ago) | Newbie

Maka why kwa? Terrorist ke? Otiooo

Posted: at 2-09-2015 04:55 PM (8 years ago) | Hero