Nigeria
:
Henry Okah is Arrested As Jonathan Cites Terrorism
Kunle Akogun, Chuks Okocha And Damilola Oyedele
2 October 2010
Abuja — Leader of Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Mr. Henry Okah, has been arrested. He was picked up yesterday in South Africa by the country's security operatives over his alleged involvement in the bomb blasts that rocked Abuja on Friday.
But President Goodluck Jonathan has likened the blasts to terrorism, which he said must be dealt with decisively by his administration.
Apart from the MEND leader, who is currently facing preliminary interrogation in South Africa, three other suspects of the blasts have also been picked up by the Nigerian security operatives. Two of the suspects, according to sources, are indigenes of Rivers State while the other is from Bayelsa State.
Speaking in Abuja after paying a visit to the National Hospital, where some of the bomb victims are receiving treatment, Jonathan dismissed claims that the bombs were planted by MEND, but said the act was perpetrated by terrorists.
He said the perpetrators only used MEND's name to wreak havoc on the nation. The blasts claimed 12 lives and left several others wounded.
"Let me also use this opportunity to reassure Nigerians that what happened yesterday had nothing, I have to repeat, had nothing to do with the Niger Delta, people just used the name of MEND to camouflage criminality and terrorism."
He said: "This is just similar to the commercial kidnappings taking place in the South-south and southeast, especially, people kidnap for money. They are not struggling for anybody and they are not representing anybody's interest."
Okah was arrested by South African intelligence operatives over allegations that his group was behind the blasts. He would be repatriated to Nigeria within the week after the ongoing preliminary interrogations.
Two of the suspects, according to sources, are indigenes of Rivers State while the other is from Bayelsa State.
Abayomi Adeshida/Vanguard
The scene of a bomb blast during the 50th Independence Anniversary around the Millenium Park, Abuja.
The President said the press statement purported to be from MEND shortly before the bombs went off, attributing the lack of attention to the Niger Delta, "is not tenable because this is the first time that somebody from the Niger Delta has the opportunity to even be the president of this country for about four months, so whatever your grievances is and you have your own here, you should have some hope".
He added: "For anybody to work with a terrorist organisation and try to use the Niger Delta as a camouflage is totally unacceptable", adding that he had informed the international media that it "is a camouflage it had nothing to do with the Niger Delta".
Jonathan recalled that he attended primary school few kilometres from the Oloibri oil well one, the first commercial oil well in the country, stressing, "nobody and I repeat, nobody can be more Niger Delta than myself and definitely it has nothing to do with the Niger Delta struggle".
He blamed the bomb blast on those he called terrorists, saying "these are terrorists, we know them, we know their sponsors and we are on their trail and by God's grace some of them will face the law."
Asked if he noticed any security lapses, the President said, "Yes of course, there were security lapses definitely".
He however refused to disclose the measures being taken by government to tackle the security lapses and said: "Security issues are not discussed openly but we have to re-examine our security system, no doubt about that to face the modern challenges we have even with or without this incident".
He expressed appreciation to all those who have shown concern over the incident including world leaders "who have all condemned that terrorist attacks on us as a nation, that led to the death of innocent Nigerians".
He also expressed the government's deep condolences to the families of the victims while encouraging and empathising with those who are on admission.
He promised that the federal government would take care of the bills of those on admission, adding, "We are also going to reach out to the families of those who have lost their lives and see the little government can assist in cushioning the immediate loss of such people dear to them".
Speaking also at a colloquium organised by ECOWAS Parliament, the President restated the commitment of his government to take the terrorists act seriously while assuring Nigerians that the efforts would be made to double up security in the nation.
He said the attacks marred Nigeria's independence celebrations while expressing appreciation to dignitaries who graced the occasion from far and near.
The President in his address urged all member states of the commission, especially the eight who celebrated their Golden Jubilee this year, to critically analyse their performances as independent nations in the march towards the sustenance of democratic ideals, rule of law and good governance.
Jonathan was the only Head of State or Government in attendance at the colloquium even though some ECOWAS heads had graced the Golden Jubilee celebrations at Eagle Square in Abuja on Friday.
THISDAY gathered that the visiting leaders, some of whom were still in Abuja as at yesterday morning, may have stayed away from the event after fears were raised on the capacity of Nigerian security agencies to thwart any attack.
Meanwhile, former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, has called on Nigerians to be more vigilant as they go about their daily chores.
Babangida, an aspirant to the office of president in next year's election, in a statement on the bomb blasts, said: "We condemn this act of cowardice in all its entirety."
He said that Nigeria at 50 was a story of several positives because only few nations in the world have survived civil war and yet remained together as one indivisible entity.
He also said the resilience of an average Nigerian coupled with his capacity to survive certain conditions have helped in no small measure to sustain "our" collective patrimony.
In a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Kassim Afegbua, Babangida said: "We have a lot of promises and hope.
We must not despair despite all the manifest parallels in the country. We must build hope and be ready to give it. We must take certain decisions that would help consolidate our unflinching potentials and capacities in order to forge ahead as one united and peaceful country under the banner of God. We must explore and exploit the advantages of dialogue and constructive engagement in resolving differences rather than this growing culture of violence against our own people, particularly the innocent ones.
Atiku, also a presidential aspirant, said in a message to the families of the bereaved and Nigerians, that the serenity of Abuja has been violated irretrievably. He described the multiple bombing incidents as unprecedented in the 30 years history of the new federal capital city and called for vigilance on the part of security agencies to avert a future occurrence.
"It is the duty of the government to protect the life and property of citizens and it must not shy away from this responsibility," he said.
Atiku prayed for the repose of the souls of those who died in the bomb blasts and for the quick recovery of the wounded.
Kwara State Governor and president aspirant, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has advised the federal government to take urgent steps to unravel the mystery behind the blasts and bring the culprits to book.
Saraki in his reaction said: "On a day when all Nigerians and our well-wishers across the world were celebrating 50 years of freedom, words cannot express my horror at the senseless deaths that occurred in Abuja ; the taking of innocent lives for no just cause.
My thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to the families of those who have tragically had their lives cut short as well as to those that were wounded.
I hope that there will be a speedy inquiry to find and prosecute the perpetrators of this heinous act who have no place in a modern Nigeria.
"May our beloved country Nigeria emerge from these trying times stronger and even more determined to stand against hate and violence."
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