Change of Guard! ...as former NDLEA DG bids staff farewell with last assignment

Emeka Ibemere

When he was decorating Yinka Fadile, one of his staffs and technical assistant in his office who bagged a new rank, as Assistant Commander of Narcotics (ACN) of NDLEA, on June 18, 2014, at the Headquarters of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, 4 Shaw Road Ikoyi, Lagos, he was not aware that that would be his last NDLEA assignment as the Director General (DG), of the agency.

 But that was it, the next morning, when the news was broke to him that he has been appointed as the Executive Secretary of Petroleum Technology Development Trust Fund (PTDF).

President Goodluck Jonathan appointed the former Director General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Femi Ajayi as the Executive Secretary of Petroleum Technology Development Trust Fund (PTDF), making the versatile bureaucrat, a new helmsman at the new agency.

According to the presidency, the appointment of Mr. Ajayi who replaces Dr. Oluwole Oluleye takes immediate effect.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade in his congratulatory message described Ajayi as an astute administrator.

“I congratulate Mr. Femi Ajayi on his new appointment. He is an astute administrator whose experience has positively impacted on the smooth running of the Agency”, he said.

“We are going to miss him but his legacies will continue to live on even in his absence, Giade stated.

Giade added that Ajayi’s appointment would further reposition PTDF for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

Femi Ajayi is a multi-disciplinary professional, a biochemist, journalist and international law expert.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan also appointed Mrs. Roli Bode-George, as the Director-General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), to replaced Ajayi.

The appointment which takes immediate effect was announced by the Special Adviser to the President on media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati in a terse press released to the media on Thursday night.

According to Abati, Mrs Bode-George takes over from Mr Olufemi Ajayi, who is now the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).

The New Director-General is the wife of the former Deputy Chairman (South West) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Commodore Bode George. Until her appointment, Mrs Bode-George was a national Commissioner at the National Population Commission. She was on the team of the NPC when the commission, led by the chairman of the commission, Eze Ihuoma visited President Jonathan to brief him on the preparation for the 2016 census.

Prior to his appointment as NDLEA Director General, Ajayi was the Senior Special Assistant to President Jonathan on Development Cooperation and Diaspora Relations.

In 2012, Ajayi was conferred with the Chieftaincy title of Otunba Ayegbaju by the Owa of Ayegbaju-Ekiti, Oba Solomon Oluwanle Adeloye in recognition of Ajayi’s contribution to community development.

Ajayi had previously served with Department For International Development (DFID) as a Senior Communication Specialist at DFID-ProPCom; Resident Coordination Specialist of the United System (2005/2006); UNICEF Communication Consultant for HIV/AIDS (2001); National Professional Officer for Communication and Informatics for UNESCO (1999/2001); United Nations Information Centre (1992 to 1999), Science Editor/Member of the Editorial Board of Daily Times (1987/90), and Media Consultant to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) (1991).

As Science Editor/Member of the Editorial Board of Daily Times, Mr. Ajayi participated in the six-week International Workshop on Drug Abuse and Trafficking sponsored by the United States Information Agency at the Voice of America in Washington D.C. in May –June 1989, where he presented a paper on Nigeria’s Drug Scene: the challenge of Drug Demand Reduction and Prohibition.

An experienced International Civil Servant, Development Communication Specialist, and   Public Affairs Analyst, Ajayi got his first degree in Biochemistry from the University of Ife in 1981; Post-graduate Diploma in Journalism from the Times Journalism

Institute 1984; and Masters in International Law and Diplomacy from the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, and Akoka-Lagos.

Ajayi has written many books including; Sustainable Development and Diplomacy- Nigeria’s Diplomatic Wars for Regional Progress in 2003. Also he wrote Communication for HIV/AIDS Prevention; A guidebook for practitioners in 2001 and Reporting the United Nations; A Handbook for Journalists. This is the second time; President Jonathan would be making changes at the NDLEA, especially at the DG’s position since coming into power.

The president had earlier now, removed the former Director General of NDLEA, Otunba Lanre Ipinmisho, on 8 December 2010 and replaced him with Mr. Femi Ajayi, the then Special Adviser to the President, on Development Cooperation and Diaspora Relations. Ipinmisho was replaced because his tenure of four years expired.

The chairman of NDLEA, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, was however not replaced, since his first five years expired long ago.

 Ajayi brought intellectualism into the drug war, delivering papers on drug topical issues and trying to build a new civil service tradition in NDLEA. It was also during his tenure that the United States of America removed Nigeria from the drug list.

Ajayi while at the NDLEA tried to revive the financial strapped agency to brutally take its responsibility adequately.

While working in UN, he was equipped with some skills; one of which was resource mobilization. He decried the lack of fund militating against NDLEA.

In August 14, 2013 at the Boat Club along Awolowo Road Ikoyi, Lagos at Business Meeting of the Lagos Rotary Club of Nigeria, where Ajayi was the guest speaker, he solicited the organisation to be involved in drug war. Present at the meeting were President of the club Gbolahan Ayodele, immediate past President Hairat Balogun and other senior members of the Lagos Rotary Club, Lagos State.

As he mounts the podium to deliver his key note speech, the speaker and versatile lecturer challenged the respected audience to key into the rehabilitation of the society by starting from the drug war

 Reading his prepared speech, Ajayi called on the Rotarians to support and partner with the NDLEA in the fight against illicit drug trafficking and abuse.

Ajayi was of the view that with the influence of business tycoons and philanthropists, including opinion moulders and decision makers in the Rotary, they could help in the fight against illicit drugs in country. 

According to Femi, the Agency needs the support of all the stakeholders in the country in carrying out its crucial mandate of both drug supply and demand reduction.

In his Paper entitled: The Role of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in National Security and Sustainable Development, he said that it was unrealistic for Nigerians, both the government and the governed to expect the NDLEA to remain functional and effective in coping with ever increasing drug control challenges without the assistance of highly influential business men, women, politicians, Reverend, pastors, philanthropists, opinion moulders in Rotary club.

“Drug control is a collective humongous task that cannot be handled by the NDLEA alone. It is a shared responsibility that requires stakeholders to partner actively with the Agency by becoming advocates, goodwill ambassadors and champions of the war against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking”. Femi stated.

He averred that drug control is at the centre of protection of public health, social safety and national security.

“By getting drugs out of circulation and away from the reach of youths and the work force, the NDLEA safeguards public health by shielding youths and able-bodied workers from drug dependence,” he explained.

Describing drug as a threat to development, Ajayi stated that drugs remain a major challenge to human civilization and development.

“Considering the huge volume of resources generated from illicit traffic in drugs, it is a serious threat to national security, the economy and development. The funds may be used to corrupt and compromise law enforcement, judicial and other government officials in order to weaken their capacity to fight crime”.

He identified inadequate funding as the most critical challenge militating against the effectiveness of the Agency. According to him, inadequate funding has made it difficult for the Agency to engage in aggressive drug prohibition and effective drug demand reduction activities.

He also tasked the Rotarians to be concerned in the dreaded war against the drug traffickers. He said hard drug is everyone’s nightmare. The many problems and collateral damages associated with the abuse and trafficking of hard drugs are not restricted to deviants or those who operate on the fringes of society as some Nigerians pretend.

“Therefore, drug abuse and trafficking should be your concern as much as mine. True, you are neither a drug courier nor a drug baron; you do not abuse, misuse, or even use narcotic drug or psychotropic substances. Perhaps, you are a tee-to-teller; you don’t even drink anything alcoholic or use any tobacco, yet, drug abuse and trafficking are still your problems”, he told his quests.

Fake GLO Ambassador Bags 2 Years Jail Term

EFCC Press Release

 Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, Gombe today sentenced one Khalil Ahmed Bappa, 29, who claims to be a GLO Ambassador, to 24 months imprisonment for fraudulently extorting goods and money worth N267, 000 from a female student of Bayero University, Kano, Yusra Ali Babakusa, with assurances of making her a Glo Ambassador.

Khalil who has been standing trial on charges bordering on obtaining by false pretences surprisingly changed his plea midway by pleading guilty to the 2-count charge.

Troubles for Khalil  started sometime in 2012 when he presented himself as a GLO agent and promised to help Yusra become a GLO Ambassador through his contacts at the  Communication’s company. The convict had forwarded a code number to Yusra with assurances that she would soon be called up as one of the eventual winners and ambassador. Subsequently, Khalil instructed her to send some money to him to facilitate the process. The accused person further told her to prepare for an interview trip to GLO head office in Lagos as her name had been selected; a journey Khalil said had been paid for by GLO (accommodation and return flight ticket).

On the expected day of the journey, Khalil prompted her to wait for him, but stopped answering her calls after a while and eventually switched off his phone. It was when she made numerous attempts to reach him but failed, that she realized she had been conned.

Justice Umar sentenced the convict to 12 months imprisonment without an option of fine on each of the counts. The sentence would however run concurrently from the date of arrest.

The court also ordered the convict to restitute his victim before the completion of his jail term and release from prison detention.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

24^th June, 2014

Police investigations are now for sale in Nigeria--Investigation

By

Emeka Ibemere

He wasn’t a police officer, but he always put a defence for Nigeria Police Force, each time the Force came under attack for not discharging their duties professionally.

Okoh Agaracha, 54 (not his real name), had a strong religious belief in the police throughout his growing days in Lagos State. He has faith in the Force and always argues in their favour. 

But recently, he rescinds his faith in the police when he lost his new CUV car to robbers at Oke-Afa Bridge on Isolo-Ikotun Road, one Saturday morning.

Agaracha was on his way to butcher’s market on top of the dump site near the bridge to buy meat for his brother in-law who was to wed that Saturday.

He was attacked and his car was taken away. Agaracha reported the case to Isolo Police Station and was asked to report the next day, after police had taken his statement.

On the appointed day, with hope that the police he trust so much would help him out, Agaracha breezed into the station but he was asked to deposit some money for ‘investigation.’ For an anxious man who is in dire need of his property, he complied. He got another appointment for another day and was asked to repeat his visit which he did and again, he was asked to ‘drop something’ for phone calls.

Aside, he was also asked to pay for mobilization fee to enable the investigation officers able to move about. Worst, he was told that there were indications that the vehicle was located at Ogun State and this required money.

 For more than three months, Agaracha was visiting the police station on invitation and at times, he would be called on phone that the vehicle was located in so and so states and money was need to storm the state.

He would ‘drop’ as usual and the investigation continues. Five months down the investigation, the man who lost his car has committed close to quarter of the money used in buying the stolen vehicle yet the car were no where the stratosphere. 

Irked by the fleecing strategy of the police investigators in a car snatching case, Agaracha withdrew the case and told the police that he was tired and that he had handed over the stolen car to God.

He told the police to forget the case and that they shouldn’t call him on it again. By the time, Agaracha bounced out of the case, he had been skinned a whopping sum of money yet the investigation is still ongoing while the car is yet to be found. The case closed and car disappeared.

 Agaracha said since then, he knew that police investigation wasn’t for free and that it’s costly for an average person to indulge in a wild-goose chase - game of the police investigation. Meanwhile, its  common to read daily, the DAILY PRESS BULLETIN of the Nigeria Police Force on the activities of the each command in the pursuant to their duties in maintaining order, peace and justice in their areas of command and influence. Such bulletins as- “FATAL MOTOR ACCIDENT: - On 8/6/2014 at about 0700hrs, at Cele Bus Stop along Oshodi Apapa Expressway Itire, a Daewoo Nubira S/Car with Reg. No. KJA 971 CW driven by one Anaeto Ikechukwu Samson ‘m’ of No.20 Alahum Ozumba Street, Maza-Maza hit one female pedestrian whose identity is yet unknown. The victim died on the spot and corpse has been deposited at Mainland General Hospital mortuary for autopsy. The case is under investigation at Itire Division”.

 Others also read as follows: “SUDDEN AND UNNATURAL DEATH: - On 6/6/2014 at about 1105hrs one Adaobi Okafor ‘f’ (Aka Chichi) was found dead in her hotel room at Onyebuchi Hotel located at No.198, Ipaja Road. The corpse has been removed to LASUTH General Hospital mortuary for autopsy. The case is under investigation at Elere Division”. You could as well see more in this format, “LONE FATAL MOTOR ACCIDENT: - On 8/6/2014 at about 2130hours at Pako Bus Stop along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway a Volkswagen Commercial Bus with Reg. No. AAA 860 XH driven by a yet to be identified person had a lone accident. An unidentified female occupant fell from the vehicle and died. The vehicle has been recovered to Gowon Estate Police Division while the corpse has been deposited at Mainland General Hospital mortuary Yaba for autopsy. Case is under investigation at Gowon Estate Division”.

The Press releases usually and duly signed by the Police Spokespersons, had the imprint of the Commissioner of police of such State Commands. In most cases the common thing is that when there are serious issues in the state, and then the Commissioner himself would avail himself the opportunity to address the press.

But when it comes on the slight cases, the Police Public Relations’ Officers dished out their daily bulletin which always contain the phrase, ‘the case is now under investigation at so and so Division’.

But are the cases actually investigated or just a police mantra to fulfil the proverbial ‘righteousness.’? Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the cases end immediately the Police Daily Press Bulletin was dished out to the press to look as if the police was still ‘on top of the matter’, more so when the victims are not willing to dole out money.

Those whose cases have been investigated are the ones with resource to follow their cases. A police source said, even in a case of missing persons, or death and accidents that police still requires and asked for money to go for the investigation. He stated that investigations of cases are not free and cheap.

Prof Etanbi et al of CLEEN Foundation, Lagos in their Analysis of Police and Policing in Nigeria, maintained that policing has always been necessary in all societies for the preservation of order, safety and social relations. Thus the primary role of the police remains that of securing compliance with existing laws and conformity with precepts of social order.

It would be recalled that the Force Criminal Investigation Department is the highest investigative arm of the Nigeria Police Force. Its functions among others include investigation and prosecution of serious and complex criminal cases within and outside the country.

The Department has the following Sections Administration, Anti-Fraud Section and Central Criminal Registry. Others are Special Anti Robbery Squad, Interpol Section, ‘X’ Squad Section, General Investigation Section and Special Fraud Unit. Also in the department includes, Homicide Section, Forensic Science Laboratory, Anti-Human trafficking Unit, Legal Section, Force CID Annex Lagos and Force CID Annex Kaduna.

Ngozi Braide, DSP and the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Ikeja when contacted on her phone on the issue refused to pick her calls.

The Nigeria Police Force is still largely accused of being uneducated, still poorly trained, extremely corrupt and still serves parochial political interests.

Recently, reports say a particular Police officer of the Nigeria Police Force demanded N150, 000 bribe in order to properly investigate a fraud. The report also revealed that officers employed force to extort money from crimes victims who approach them for help.

Investigations gathered that the police always demand mobilization fee, transportation fee, writing utensils fee, documentation and files keeping fee, money for the ‘oga at the top’ fee, money for my team’s fee, appreciation fee, good-fate fee and other terms coined to justify what appear as demand for bribe.

Controversy trails the infiltration of Boko Haram in South East

B

y Emeka Ibemere

Last week’s arrest of members of Boko Haram in far away Abia State, South East Nigeria, has sparked off controversy regarding the purported arrest of over 400 Boko Haram goons in South-East geo-political zone of the country.

South East is predominately Christian faithful dominated by the Igbo speaking Nigerians.

Speaking in a telephone chat on the alleged arrest and discovery of bomb in South East, allegedly planted by Boko Haram members, the former Lagos State Commissioner of police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, who supported the views expressed by the leader of the Hausa Community in Rivers State, that those arrested were bona fide traders seeking for lawful means of subsistence, then asked if the suspects were found with any incriminating items of evidential value?

 He queried, “Whether the army’s arrest was on mere suspicion because the suspects were from the terror infested north?”

Tsav again asked whether the alleged kingpin said to be arrested with the 485 others was declared wanted and if so by who and through what medium and what was his name?

Speaking further, the ex-police cop queried again. “Could this be a subtle defence for the violation of the fundamental rights of the arrested innocent Northern traders?”

“How did the arrested people pass through police and other military blocks in the North?”

The no-nonsense retired police cop said due to the previous inconsistencies in DHQ’s press statements, one was compelled to take the press statements of the DHQ with a pinch of salt adding that however, Nigeria is in an era of ‘pick and choose’, meaning that citizens of Nigeria must look before they leap.

Writing in reaction from New York, one Uzoh who never wanted to give out his second name again asked.  “So where are the suspects and who gave them the bombs?” he asked, “What next Mr. Commissioner, that these suspects have been arrested on the spot and even confessed to the crime? This one should not be swept under the carpet while Biafran Zionist members for peacefully entering Enugu Radio station were arrested and moved to Abuja too”.

According to Uzoh, MASSOB and OPC must rise up to the occasion by learning to make and plant bombs too. If Boko Haram starts bombing the South we've no place to run to

Also another person simply identified his name as Mr. Jide; said journalists should not wish and disaster in the states under the incitement of religious hate. “No police has come out to reveal the identities of the suspects. And, trust Nigeria policeman, one found loitering around at the time is a suspect. But the dragnet should not be limited to Hausa or Muslims. A group of aggrieved members have bombed a church in Bauchi. A group of young Christians carried out a mock Boko Haram attack at Ikonifin, Osun State recently. When arrested, they were all Christians. They claimed to be 'acting'. I don't know why Imo should be a prime target of the devil-BH. This claim is either fathom or an insider work. We remember the hunters’ episode of 2011. Nigeria, we hail thee”, he submitted.

Joseph Ubiagba, also another commentator on the issue said Muslims all around the world, by their actions and inaction should hold themselves accountable to what becomes of their future even if they plunge the world into war.

Ebele said be it known to Nigerians that the bombings and abduction saga were because the President is not a Muslim. He said. “Let me warn that if nothing drastic is done to curb this insurgency; it would continue come 2015, if Muslim did not clinch power. Of course, why it seemed difficult to contain is because majority of the security forces are northerners. It is better for Nigerians to define themselves now and part ways. Think about what white minority did in South Africa, before Mandela rescued them; that is, what is being done in Nigeria by northerners”. Pastor Celestine Maduabuchukwu Nwosu hope the ongoing investigation yields a fruitful result but asked why the suspects are being hidden from the media?

Martin Enyinna Akanaefu asked the government to adequately prosecute the case.

“Who are the suspects? Are they Ibos or are they Northerners? Where are they presently?”

As if Nigerians have lost faith in the security agencies, the arrest of the Boko Haram members in South East seems doubtful to most of Imo State citizens.  Some who spoke to Daily Newswatch said when Nigeria police arrests even a pickpocket; they parade them to the media but hid the Boko Haram members and they demanded to see the six Boko Haram suspects that tried to bomb church in Imo State.

“Since Boko Haram started, we don't hear of armed robbers anymore, everybody now is Boko Haram. Since kidnapping started, armed robbers disappeared, again because every one of them claimed to be kidnapper. Trust Imo state, their own is different”, a student stated.

Meanwhile, the South East governors have also reacted to the alleged infiltration of Boko Haram in the zone, stating that Boko Haram can’t penetrate their region- South-East.

Speaking through Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House on Monday, the Governors said they were in Abuja to pledge solidarity to the President in this trying period. They expressed their resolve to ensure that the dreaded insurgents, Boko Haram are not allowed to penetrate the region.

Present at the meeting were Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, Theodore Ahmafule Oji also of Abia State and Martin Elechi, the governor of Ebonyi.

Obiano told State House correspondents: “No, they (Boko Haram) can’t get there; I can assure you of that. We will not allow that to happen.

“I can’t tell you in any material details about bombs found or not found. All I can assure you is that we are very alert in the Southeast and we are watching what is going on. I can assure you that Boko Haram cannot come to the Southeast.”

 “The Southeast governors came this morning to assure him that we are with him all through the way and that he can count on us.

“The President is a human being and he is under a lot of pressure and some other people are making the work a lot more difficult for him.

“Instead of supporting him to steer us out of these stormy waters, they are adding kerosene to fire. So we are here to tell him that we are here supporting him and that he should count on us.”

Speaking with confidence on the arrest of the alleged suspected Boko Haram members who invaded South East, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum immediately condemned what it regarded to as an indiscriminate arrest of 486 northerners in Abia State as suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

The group told media that it was sure that all the alleged arrested Boko Haram was northerners who had no link with Boko Haram. The group warned the South-East governors that such action was capable of fuelling enmity between the northerners and southerners.

AYCF, President, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, was reported to have told reporters that the group was worried that a continuation of such arrests could lead to the break-up of Nigeria.

 “This gives us a lot of worry. Are these South-East governors or whoever is at the helms of affairs doing this in the interest of this country or to cause more hatred for our people, so that the country will break up? He explained.

“Those who are acting out this script of disintegration are not helping this country, especially at this challenging period. We are not in support of Boko Haram or their bomb attacks. We are saying that innocent citizens should not suffer because some evil-minded people come from their area. I can tell you that those who were arrested in Abia are not Boko Haram members”, he stated further. “We had a case where about 500 people arrested in Lagos. I intervened and on getting to the force headquarters, we discovered that most of them were innocent and they were released.

“We are not saying security agencies should not do their work, but they should not go about arresting hundreds of people just because they are looking for one or two suspects.”

AYC leader claimed that it was wrong to think that it was only northerners who plant bombs in the country. He disclosed that some southerners had been arrested for terrorism.

He condemned the northern governors and other political leaders in the region for keeping quiet while northerners were being victimised.

It would be recalled that prior to the arrest of the dangerous religious sect in the zone, six suspected Boko Haram members were arrested in Owerri, the Imo State capital in the early hours of Sunday June 15, inside the Winners’ Chapel along the Port Harcourt road by the state police command, while planting bombs in the church premises.

 Witness account said the security personnel attached to the church had noticed some strange movements within the church premises and monitored their movements.

It was gathered that the church members and the senior pastor of the church, Moses Oyedele, who were around during the time, alerted the security and the police immediately rushed to the scene with soldiers and other security agents.

Daily Newswatch gathered that about six bombers had already taken over the church premises in order to perpetrate their nefarious activities. On arrival at the scene of the incident, the police immediately cordoned off the church premises in search of the suspects, leading to their arrest. On interrogation, it was discovered that the suspects had planted a bomb at the entrance gate of the church and had taken position round the premises of the church so as to plant more bombs.

However, the police anti-bomb squad detonated the bombs and conducted a thorough check round the premises to ensure that there were no other hidden bombs within the premises.

 Further probe on the suspects, was a confession from the goons that they were suicide bombers who had stormed the state with the intention of bombing five churches in the state.

The action forced the church authorities to relocate the service of that day to the Heroes Square near Imo Concorde Hotel where they conducted their first service which was supposed to begin by 7a.m.

The state Commissioner of Police, Adbulmajid Ali, advised the people of the state to be vigilant now that the Boko Haram members had penetrated the state.

He confirmed that the anti-bomb disposal unit of the state police command had detonated the bombs, adding that investigations to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident had commenced.

The state Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha while addressing journalists condemned the action. He commended the security agencies for their timely intervention.

As people of the state were yet to get relief from the shock of the bomb discovered from a Church 48 hours after, the Nigerian Army 144 battalion in Asa, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, allegedly intercepted a convoy of 33 buses conveying 486 suspected insurgents including eight females between Aro -Ngwa and Imo Gate along the Enugu- Port Harcourt expressway.

The suspects were said to have been intercepted around 3am on Sunday, and were coming from different parts of the Northern states to South Eastern States. The age bracket of the alleged criminals was between 16 and 24, claiming to have come for greener pastures in the zone.

 The Headquarters of the 144 Battalion, Asa, where the suspects are being detained confirmed the incident. The Commander of the military base, Lieutenant Colonel Rasheed Omolori, said the suspects were arrested by his men.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Abia State, Dr. Eze Chikamnayo, explained that two buses escaped with their occupants.

Although Lieutenant Colonel Omolori declined comment, he said the incident has been reported to the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

The Commissioner said the sheer size of the movement made it suspicious, adding that none of the suspects was able to identify the location they were heading to and wondered how such a long motorcade could not be intercepted by security personnel until they reached Abia.

Dr. Chikamnayo said that at the moment, the Army and other security agencies in the state were working to unravel the actual mission of the suspects and those behind the movement.

He was of the view that if other security personnel in other parts of the country would do as much as 144 Battalion, Asa, in Abia, insurgency in the country would be a thing of the past.

“I expect every state to work hand-in-hand with their security personnel to check insurgency. Every security problem is local and if we handle it locally it will be nipped in the bud,” he said.

He cited the case of Abia State during the days of kidnapping and how it was taken as an Abia problem and condemned the idea of demonstrating in Abuja over matters that should be handled locally.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) revealed that one of the most wanted terror kingpins was among the 486 Boko Haram suspects arrested in Abia State.

In a statement by Major General Chris Olukolade, Director, Defence Information, the Defence Headquarters said that a terror kingpin on the list of wanted terrorists, whose name was not revealed, was detected during the screening of the suspects arrested in Aba.

It stated that all security agencies and Para-military groups were involved in the screening of the suspects, adding that the exercise would identify, “possible security risk or illegal immigrants”. Olukayode stated that the apprehended wanted terror kingpin has been taken into custody.

The statement, entitled: “Update on the screening of 486 arrested travellers in Abia State:  Wanted terror kingpin nabbed,” reads: “A terror kingpin in the list of wanted terrorists of security forces in Nigeria have been detected in the ongoing screening of the 486 suspects nabbed while travelling in over 33 Hiace Hummer buses at night along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway last Sunday. “So far, other security agencies, including the Para-military, have joined the screening to ascertain the status of the remaining suspects.  Those identified as possible security risk or illegal immigrants are expected to be identified for further action.

“Meanwhile, the identified terror kingpin has been taken into custody.  Further development will be communicated to you in due course.”

Also, the former Amir-ulhajj of Abia State and Deputy Chairman of Aba Muslim Community, Alhaji Musa Iheakaram, has urged the state government and security agencies operating in Abia and the entire South-East to beef up security in their states.

Alhaji Iheakaram, who spoke against the backdrop of last Sunday’s botched bombing and the arrest of 468 Boko Haram suspects, said it was obvious that the insurgents may have made an in-road into the South-East.

“The discovery of the IEDs planted at the headquarters of the Living Faith Church in Owerri by terrorists should be an eye opener because what happened in Owerri on Sunday could happen to any church or mosque in Aba,” he stated.

According to him, rumours do not go for nothing. He advised the state government and security agencies not to dismiss the infiltration of Boko Haram into Aba, but going a step further to beef up security in the city.

 However, Charles Anike, National President, Eastern Union, a social cultural organization, said both incidences weren’t coincidence and that such issue shouldn’t be overlooked and giving a ‘tribal mark’. He pleaded to the North to avoid touching the lion on the tail whether dead or alive, so that Nigeria would continue to live in peace. Anike said the suspected Boko Haram Members’ excuse of invading Abia and Imo States aren’t enough to justify their convoy movement akin to their operational working arrangement in carrying out their devilish acts in Yobe, Adamawa and Borno States. Anike disclosed that Abia and Imo States are not anyway near European and American countries were people go for greener pastures and that the two states doesn’t give job. He wondered while in a convoy and charted vehicles. “How can a whole tribe invade another tribe in search of job in a convoy of 36 buses? It’s questionable”, he stated.