Bomb threat: FG orders SSS, Police to stop MEND

The Federal Government has directed its security agencies to counter the threat by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta to launch attacks in Abuja, Lagos and oil the Niger Delta, security sources indicated in Abuja on Tuesday.


MEND in a statement on Monday had said that it would soon commence attacks on oil installations in order to cripple that country’s economy and warned Nigerians to stay away from political gatherings in Abuja, Lagos and the Niger Delta.

It accused the President Goodluck Jonathan administration of unwillingness to address key issues in the Niger Delta.


The militant group also warned that its threat must be taken seriously in order to avoid a repeat of the Independence Day bombings’ tragedy when about 13 people died because its warning was not taking seriously.


In another mail on Tuesday, MEND reinforced its threat to bomb political gatherings and oil installations and warned that anybody who took its warning for granted did so at his or her risk.


It said that it learnt that agents of the United States of America were training some members of the Nigeria Police on bomb detection and detonation, saying it might “resort to bomb blasts without prior notification.”


The militant group had promised on Monday to issue prior notification to allow for evacuation and a final warning 30 minutes before its planned blasts.


Our correspondent gathered that government ordered the agencies to be on the alert nationwide in order to thwart any move by the group to cause a breach of the peace in the country.


A top security source confided in our correspondent in Abuja on Monday that the heads of the State Security Services, National Intelligence Agency and the Nigeria Police Force, had been directed to put their men on high alert.


The source further revealed that the security chiefs had already given directives to their subordinates to study and analyse the MEND threat with a view to decoding its security implications.


The source said the Presidency was particularly worried that the MEND threat could affect voters’ turn out in the forthcoming election.


A top police source, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said that the Inspector- General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, had spoken with his counterparts in the other security organisations on the matter.


He said that with the spate of bombings across the country in recent times, there was no way the government would treat the MEND threat with levity.


The source said, “You remember that this MEND also issued a statement before the October 1 bombings in Abuja. Not only that, the mysterious organisation was also said to have issued warning before the bombing at the Mammy Market in Mogadishu barracks in Abuja.


“Apart from this, we have been experiencing isolated bombings in some parts of the country as witnessed in Suleja on March 3.


“Though the idea behind the statement could be to cause panic among Nigerians and also frighten them from coming out to exercise their voting rights, but we would not take it lightly.”


When contacted, the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olusola Amore, said the Police would not allow any group of criminals to hold the country to ransom.


He said the Police were working with other security agencies to make sure that Nigerians felt safe wherever they found themselves in the country.


Amore, who said that though the Police would work against acts of lawlessness, advised Nigerians to discountenance the MEND threat and go about their normal duties.


He said, “We just want people to know that criminals should not hide under any group to intimidate their fellow Nigerians.


“The Police will not condone any act of lawlessness. No one should also hide under any faceless group to cause panic among the people.


“We are calling on Nigerians to discountenance such threats and rumour. We would do everything within the law to make sure that the forthcoming election is conducted under a peaceful atmosphere.


“Therefore, we are working with other security agencies to make sure that the country is safe and also get to the root of the matter.


“We are also working in collaboration with other security agencies to have a peaceful election. The 2011 general elections are the target of this faceless group but we are doing our work to make sure that we have a crisis-free election.”


Meanwhile, the House of Representatives on Tuesday passed the bill for an Act to establish the Office of the Coordinator on Anti-Terrorism. The bill seeks to empower the Coordinator to enforce any law regulating terrorism in Nigeria.


The bill will be sent to the Senate for concurrence before forwarding same to the President for assent.


The House had on March 2 concluded debate on the general principle of the seven-clause bill and referred it to the Joint Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes and Justice.

Posted: at 16-03-2011 11:21 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

why wagging war against ABUJA and LAGOS ? this bounches of criminals must be very very MAD so

Posted: at 29-03-2011 09:21 PM (13 years ago) | Grande Master

I don hear and what next?

Posted: at 2-04-2011 08:07 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

what will that benefit them, if u destroy the economy of your fathers land, where then will u run to.

Posted: at 29-09-2011 02:04 PM (12 years ago) | Newbie