Ghaddafi Suspected in the bombing of UN building in Abuja

Posted by admin Africa & World Politics, Boko Haram, National Politics, Top Stories, United Nations Sunday, August 28th, 2011

Ousted/Disgraced Leader of Libya

Available details on Saturday showed that the bomb blast inflicted on the UN office in Abuja on Friday by the Boko Haram sect was part of the global activity of the dreaded Al Queada group to mark the 10 anniversary of the bombing of the American twin towers on September 11, 2001.

Sources confirmed at the weekend that the Nigerian intelligence networks actually shared the intelligence during the week and that while everyone was at high alert, the UN office was apparently not seen as a possible target.

It was confirmed that leaders of the Al-Queda group had concluded on a number of steps to take to mark the first decade of the bombing of the twin towers in the United States, which left over 3,000 persons dead.

Sources also confirmed that the dreaded group has the Boko Haram as its ally in Nigeria and that the sect was briefed on the steps to take in celebrating the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

“During the last week, information came out that the Al-Queada group was planning to mark 10 years of 9/11 and that as a result of the celebrations, some activities must take place in different parts of the world,” a source stated.

It was gathered that Boko Haram operatives, who had been collaborating with the Al-Queada in recent times, saw no difficulty in taking up the challenge.

It was also confirmed that having been cut short in its plan to mark the first anniversary of the death of its leader, Muhammed Yussuf in July, the Boko Haram decided to make the anniversary of 9/11 a top priority.

The source, however, stated that a fresh manhunt has begun for suspected leaders of the sect who are seen as bankrolling its operations.

It was gathered that President Goodluck Jonathan is unhappy with the management of bomb blast cases by the police.

A source said that while the president expected the police to make moves and prevent the spread of suicide bomber after the June 16 bomb attack on police headquarters in Abuja, the police apparently sat back and continued to tell the nation that the June 16 incident was not a suicide attack.

It was also gathered that the president was really angry that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Hafis Ringim, could not place the issue in clear perspective.

Nine UN staff die in attack
The United Nations (UN) country team in Nigeria has confirmed that nine of their colleagues were killed in the deadly bomb attack on their building in Abuja, on Friday, saying that the team was assessing the full impact of the incident.

According to a statement by Agathe Lawson, the acting Resident Coordinator for the UN system in Nigeria, made available to Sunday Tribune in Abuja, on Saturday, UN has continued with its efforts to ensure that the people affected are receiving medical care and support.

It revealed that the UN building in Abuja included 26 United Nations agencies and about 400 staff, saying that the bomb caused extensive damage to the entire building.

It said, “The UN is still assessing the human toll. Nine UN staff members are confirmed dead and many dozens are hospitalized with injuries. This figure does not include the deaths of any non-UN staff, including security and visitors. The casualty numbers may change as the UN continues its assessment and more information flows in from hospitals, staff and their families.

“These deaths and injuries are a grievous blow to the UN family and our national partners. We have lost motivated, bright, selfless people who were working only for the good of Nigeria and the world. Our priority now is to ensure those who are injured and the families of those who died are cared for.

“Our second and urgent priority is to ensure the UN operations continue. We will not be deterred in our mission to work to improve the lives of Nigerians. This is why we are here,” the statement said.

Ghaddafi may be involved

Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, former special adviser on National Assembly matter to former president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, has said the bombing of the United Nations Headquarters (UN) in Abuja may be linked to the deposed Libyan leader, Mohammed Ghadaffi, who may not be happy with the position of President Goodluck Jonathan’s recognition of the rebels.

This is just as he said the attack may not stain Nigeria’s relationship with international community, as it would even strengthen it.

He also ruled out the possibility that the Boko Haram may be responsible for the bomb attack, adding that Ghadaffi may have also carried out the attack based on the same recognition of United States as well as huge amount of money the United Nations promised the interim government in Libya.

Making the assertion on Saturday while speaking with pressmen on the suicide bomb attack, the elder statesman said there was every reason to suspect Mohammed Ghadaffi‘s connection to the attack.

He noted that Nigeria and the United Nation had taken a stand that may not have pleased Ghadaffi.

He, however, stated that President Jonathan had every right to speak on the stand of the country on any national issue.

UN top shots arrive Nigeria
Following the Friday devastating suicide attack at the UN headquarters in Abuja, the spokesman of the international body in Nigeria, Charles Nosa Osazuwa, has said the Deputy UN’s Secretary General, Asha-Rose Migiro and UN’s security chief, Greg Starr, would arrive the country on Saturday night to ascertain the level of the attack and also commiserate with the people of Nigeria.

The UN chiefs, who are expected to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan and convey the message of the international organisation on the suicide attack to the president, were dispatched by the United Nations’ Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, who has strongly condemned the attack.

President Goodluck inspects bombed building
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan and many other national leaders have condemned the attack, calling it barbaric and inhuman.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who inspected the scene of the bomb blast, on Saturday, vowed in a statement to hunt down the culprits, assuring the nation that the nation’s security forces were on top of the situation.

In a brief exchange with correspondents, he said, “One thing is very clear, terrorist attack on any individual or any group is a terrorist attack on the rest of the world, it not just about the UN office in Nigeria.

“We will work with the UN and all the world leaders. Of course, many of them have contacted me between yesterday and today,” Jonathan added.

On the possible damage the UN’s headquarters bombing incident may have done to the image of Nigeria in the international community, Jonathan regretted it but added that it was what happened anywhere in the world where there had been terrorist attacks.

Other national leaders condemn attack

Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, has similarly described the attack, saying it was a heinous act against humanity.

Speaking through his media spokesman, Prince Kassim Afegbua, the former leader said the attack was pathetic and disturbing.

While proffering solution to the attack, which he described as a sad development, Babangida urged every well meaning and patriotic Nigerian to rise to the occasion with a view to finding a collective and enduring solution to the dastardly act.

According to him, ‘’It is very pathetic and disturbing to see this kind of dastardly act taking place before our very eyes. We have stated in the past that we have to improve on our information gathering methodologies, so that we could arrest this ugly trend once and for all.’’

Governors react
Kwara State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has also condemned in strong terms the bomb attack that rocked the United Nations building in Abuja where several people were killed and many others injured, describing the attack as a barbaric and dastardly act.

Reacting to the unfortunate incident, Governor Ahmed said the attack was a national disgrace and assault on the United Nations and the personality of Nigeria as a nation.

He, therefore, advised the Federal Government to take the issue of security more seriously, noting that the present state of insecurity in the country was far becoming unacceptable.

Alhaji Ahmed, who expressed his heartfelt condolences to the UN’s Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, members of the UN and families of the victims of the bomb blast, appealed to those responsible for the wicked act to retrace their steps before nemesis caught up with them.

Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, has similarly expressed shock over the news of the bombing of the United Nations office in Abuja.

Aregbesola, in a statement signed on his behalf by his media aide, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, said the situation was an indication that security situation in the country had degenerated.

The governor condemned the dastardly act and urged the Federal Government to take urgent and decisive steps to protect lives and property of its citizens as well as that of foreigners.

He stated that the bombing of the UN office was a national disgrace, which was capable of discouraging foreign investments, at a time when there ought to be an aggressive plan to revive the nation’s economy.

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State also flayed Friday’s bombing of the United Nations (UN) house in Abuja, describing the development as “a negative signpost for Nigeria, which should necessitate a more serious approach.”

Governor Fayemi, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, urged “The leadership of the country not to view the dastardly act and the growing spate of violence in the country as purely a local issue.”wp_posts

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Posted by admin on Aug 28 2011. Filed under Africa & World Politics, Boko Haram, National Politics, Top Stories, United Nations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry