ABUJA—Some prominent
politicians are presently being interrogated following the discovery of
their identity cards and other incriminating items when troops destroyed
terrorists’ camp in Balmo Forest, Bauchi State last week.
The Coordinator of the National Information Centre, NIC, Mr. Mike
Omeri, told newsmen in Abuja, yesterday:
“Following the last successful
operation carried out by security forces to dislodge terrorists from
their forest bases in Darazo Local Government Area end of Balmo Forest,
some politicians are currently being interrogated following the recovery
of some sensitive registration cards and other materials of a prominent
political party that were found in the possession of some of the
suspects arrested.
“Those who are being interrogated are prominent
politicians belonging to a frontline political party. Troops even
recovered the identity cards of some of the politicians.”
He, however, declined to mention any particular party.
Faults pro-Chibok girls groups
Omeri,
who has been coordinating information regarding the efforts towards
finding the Chibok schoolgirls, decried the activities of some
organisations and individuals championing the cause of the abducted
girls as, according to him, they were aiding insurgency in the country.
He
said: “Some of these groups are augmenting and supplementing terrorists
by their activities because they create diversion for security
operatives from promptly responding to insurgent activities.”
Responding
to a question, Army spokesman, Major General Chris Olukolade insisted
that the military and other security agencies were getting results in
their fight against terror.
He noted that the regular arrests of
terrorists and their backers were indicative of such results which
should be encouraging to all Nigerians.
He said: “Nigerians should
be assured that there is hope of finding and bringing back the girls;
there is hope that the terrorists will be defeated and good progress is
being made.
“We told you earlier that over 250 sorties have been
flown while President Goodluck Jonathan once announced that over 20,000
troops have been deployed.”
‘BringBackOurgirls deceives public’
Spokesperson for the Department of State Services, DSS, Mrs. Marilyn Ogar, accused the BringBackOurGirls campaigners of turning the issue into a franchise.
She
said: “BringBackOurGirls movement has become a franchise and security
forces know what they are up to. If it is an ordinary movement seeking
to pile pressure on government or security agencies to free these girls,
there will be no need for the group to begin to have tags and insist
that you must be registered.
“Security forces also know that they
have bank accounts. We also know that they want to simulate a protest
march inside Asokoro Extension in Abuja and claim that they were doing
so inside Sambi-sa Forest, to be reported in some foreign media.
Getting security training
“We
also know that they brought in some experts from outside the country to
teach them how to beat security when they are demonstrating; to
withstand police teargas and security operations. We are waiting to see
when these things would work.
“We also know that they are dividing themselves into groups and zones giving each other specific assignments.
“They
were also paying courtesy calls to money bags to solicit support. It is
getting very ridiculous, but we are still watching.
“There is no
need to hire people to come and claim that they have children among the
girls that were abducted. It has become a franchise or why would those
involved in the movement decide to carry out smear campaign against
certain government officials?
“If we have to fight for our rights, let us genuinely fight for our rights by being more transparent.”
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