A combined team of security agents has uncovered a hideout where a large number of arms used by the Boko Haram sect were kept.

The Director of Defence Information, Colonel Mohammed Yerima, speaking on behalf of the Joint Security Information Managers’ Committee on Security Developments in the country, said that a joint team of the Police and Army in Kano, acting on a tip-off by well-meaning Nigerians, discovered the large cache of arms and ammunition in the residential Mariri area of Kano.

He said 10 AK47 rifles, one teargas gun, 26 magazines, 107 rounds of 7.22mm special gun, 27 assault rifles and ammo 29 rounds, five wallets, one Nigerian international passport, two police identity cards, one briefcase and three GSM handsets were recovered.

The Defence spokesman expressed appreciation to members of the public, who he said had continued to provide useful assistance by way of information and intelligence reports, which had in no small measure helped the security organisations to battle violent sects like the Boko Haram and other undesirable elements in the society.

According to him, “the collective efforts of men and women of goodwill will ultimately defeat the machinations of the evil in our country. We urge Nigerians to remain steadfast, knowing that our security organisations are not resting on their oars until peace and security are restored.”

Speaking on the restiveness by some Niger Delta youths, Colonel Yerima regretted that people who were never part of the agitation had emerged and were trying to claim amnesty and its benefits by force.

He noted that it was not possible to run an indefinite amnesty programme, adding that the names of the suspects who attacked the Agip Brass-Bonny pipeline had been revealed.

The Defence spokesman gave their names as Friday Burutu, Lord Onipa, Robinson Agagudu, Eyala Kero, Stanley Uduorie, Para Ekiyes and Rasmus Omukoro, warning that an ultimatum had been given to them to report to the security agencies or face the consequences.

He advised the people of the Niger Delta to be mindful of people who were out to swindle them by wrongfully appropriating the identity of the erstwhile leadership of MEND to curry sympathy for their selfish and criminal interests.

Colonel Yerima called on the people of the Niger Delta region to join the security agencies to defeat the evil that was rearing its head by giving timely and accurate information on the criminal elements through the usual channels, adding that there could be collateral damage if individuals and communities decided to provide sanctuary for these enemies of the society.

Also, the Defence spokesman disclosed that a cargo ship, MT Takoradi, was on the night of 26 January, 2012, arrested at Escravos by NNS Thunder, which was on a routine patrol as part of Operation Pulo Shield.

He disclosed that it was discovered that Takoradi was laden with one million litres of AGO, which the crew could not give account of how they came about it, and was consequently arrested.

Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) and Nigeria, on Wednesday, agreed to engage anti-terrorism experts against the Boko Haram.

The experts are also to work to identify possible action-plan to halt the soaring bomb attacks by the sect and enhance the cooperation of both the union and Nigeria in the field of counter-terrorism.

The measure was part of the resolutions reached at the end of the third Nigeria-European Union ministerial meeting in Abuja, on Wednesday.

Although the EU and Nigeria expressed commitment to addressing the root causes of the security challenges in the North, they, however, agreed that the core values which they shared and which include an open society, adherence to the rule of law and respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights, were vital to overcoming terrorism in the country.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Denmark, Mr Villy Soevndal, led the EU delegation, while the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, led the Nigerian side.

Both parties agreed that Nigeria’s security situation was an impediment to national development and re-emphasised that the existing partnership between them would include support for regional and national strategies within the framework of EU’s strategy for security and development in the Sahel region.

In the communiqué signed by Soevndal and Ashiru, EU and Nigeria stressed the need for continued efforts to fully implement the amnesty programme, in order to consolidate peace and stability in the Niger Delta.

“The parties shared the same analysis as to peace, security and developmental challenges in northern Nigeria and in particular the threat of the extremist group known as Boko Haram.

“In that regard, they agreed to engage experts with a view to identifying a possible action plan and to enhance their cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism, while strengthening their efforts in addressing the root causes of the security challenges in the North,” the communique read.

In another development, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has advised Nigerians to disregard the “pathetic attempt at propaganda by a very unintelligent spokesperson of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Colonel Timothy Antigha.”

MEND, in a statement, recalled that it had confirmed in early 2011 that all statements posted on Saharareporters and the Times of Nigeria websites were authentic MEND statements.

“Just as Goodluck Jonathan attempted to blame our bomb attacks of October 1, 2010, on northern politicians, it is very convenient for the Nigerian government to again frame innocent people.

“We hope the government of Nigeria has apprehended all persons declared wanted, as in the next few weeks, we will carry our more serious attacks on the Nigerian oil industry.

“Then, we wonder what tales the daft spokesman for the Nigerian military will have for the media,” the group said.

Comments (4)

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IS THE SCANTY WEAPONS THE ARMOURY?
written by richard iguabo, February 09, 2012

Sometimes i feel that our security forces are in a haste to make sensational news out of little achievement. Does the discovery of 10 pieces of AK47 a significant thing for whole weapons that this Boko Haram group have been using? This is quite insignificant. Is it 10 AK47 that the Boko Haram have been using to sack and destroy several police stations?

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Mr
written by Patrick Agbobu, February 09, 2012

We are not interested in day to day interrogation of suspects and I will advice that security details are kept very secret. Our only interest is that, this ugly cancar worm of iniquity boko haram, should be completely destroyed, so that Nigerians can live in peace. I regard the release of these details as unneccessary divertion. You should by now have known, the leaders and sponsors of boko harm, from your detained suspect, you should name, shame, arrest and prosecute them. The next thing Nigerians will be told is that, the detained suspect has died unexpectedly. This is Nigeria for you, but if such should happen, Nigerians will react in a way, that will shock the establishment to their bones. Do not say that you were not warned.

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THERE IS NEED TO LOOK FOR MORE!
written by Hon. Muozoba JohnBosco, February 09, 2012

If those little tool is there armory found in Kano, I can tell you it is infinitesimal, let the security agency look down they will see more in many homes of Islamic cheiftains & even at the Mosque! Let the homes of those Alhajis be searched,at least that you are a priest does not allow one to keep arms illegally! where are the arms that found its way to Nigeria from Benghazi? where are those Nigerian/Niger Islamic youths trained and armed by Gaddafi, and where are their arms? until these questions are answered we may be making much noise over discovery of rubbish! Let SSS do their work without fear of intimidation!IT IS TIME TO START SEARCHING HOMES OF THOSE ASSUMED BIG OGAS IN HOODS! only then can we see a shocking revelation that will shook Nigeria to foundation!

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written by Hon. Muozoba JohnBosco, February 09, 2012

If those little tool is there armory found in Kano, I can tell you it is infinitesimal, let the security agency look down they will see more in many homes of Islamic cheiftains & even at the Mosque! Let the homes of those Alhajis be searched,at least that you are a priest does not allow one to keep arms illegally! where are the arms that found its way to Nigeria from Benghazi? where are those Nigerian/Niger Islamic youths trained and armed by Gaddafi, and where are their arms? until these questions are answered we may be making much noise over discovery of rubbish! Let SSS do their work without fear of intimidation!IT IS TIME TO START SEARCHING HOMES OF THOSE ASSUMED BIG OGAS IN HOODS! only then can we see a shocking revelation that will shook Nigeria to foundation!

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