DSS parades fake Boko Haram negotiators
Khadi appointed on Sheriff’s request –Shettima Jonathan writes Buhari, wishes him fulfilment at 72
he Department of State Security Service (DSS) yesterday paraded some fake members of the Boko Haram terrorist organisation who allegedly negotiated false agreements with government.
Parading the suspects, spokesperson of the service, Marilyn Ogar said the seven suspects arrested, including a former aide of Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, conspired to deceive government and make money while presenting themselves as representatives of the terrorist group.
According to Ogar, the former aide of Governor Shettima, one Junaid Idrissa Khadi, confessed that he introduced one Aisha Wakil, to Australian negotiator Stephen Davis as a credible link to the top members of the Boko Haram sect.
She added that other suspects: Ibrahim Yusuf, Saleh Ibrahim, Abdullah Saleh, Nurudeen Ibrahim, Mubarak Adamu and Mustapha Maidugu also made confessions which have enabled the service to establish that they participated in a plan to spread falsehood, undermine and discredit efforts of the government to end terrorism.
Ogar said in August, an Australian self-styled negotiator for the Boko Haram sect had alleged that former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff and Chief of Army Staff, Azubuike Ihejirika were among the chief sponsors of the Boko Haram sect.
“Davis premised his findings on discussions with several field commanders of the sect, who supposedly expressed willingness of the sect to negotiate with the Nigerian government, if Davis would spearhead the negotiation, to which Davis posted some pictures of himself with the supposed leaders of the sect,” she added.
Ogar further said the governor’s former aide also confessed that “he deliberately conspired to blackmail and implicate Sheriff and a former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.”
She explained that: “By mounting pressure on the fake Boko Haram leaders, particularly Abubakar Yusuf to affirm that Sheriff was indeed a sponsor…Davis single-handedly conjured the indictment of Ihejirika based on allegations that the military under the former military boss was responsible for the several failed attempts by Davis to make contact with the Presidency.”
Speaking to journalists, 30-year-old Yusuf who confessed that he made about N4 million from the fake Boko Haram negotiation deals, said he was a member of the group but left them in 2009.
However the DSS said it was Yusuf who introduced Ibrahim, Nurudeen and Adamu to Davis as the sect’s Amirul Jeish (grand commanders). He also introduced one Yakubu Kaumi, now dead, as the spokesperson for the sect.
Ibrahim is said to have been a casual staff of Borno Radio Television (BRTV) after he left the sect in 2005.
Ogar said in 2013 Ibrahim participated in a government sponsored dialogue with the Boko Haram sect and had granted an interview to the Voice of America (VOA) and spoke extensively on the bogus Boko Haram ceasefire with the federal government.
Fielding questions from journalists Ogar said: “Davis and his cohorts are among several other local and international groups who are out to make merchandise of the Boko Haram insurgency through concocted and fabricated stories.”
Asked if the Australian would be prosecuted, Ogar said investigation is still on going on Davis’ culpability in the scam noting that the appropriate diplomatic channels would be used.
It can be recalled that the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North East, which was headed by the Minister of Special Duties, Mr. Tanimu Turaki, held several meetings with the fake sect members presented as commanders.
Also, another presidential committee led by Ambassador Hassan Tukur, entered into negotiations with the fake sect commanders.
In a reaction, Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima said one of those paraded, Alhaji Khadi, was one of his aides in 2013 based on a request by ex-governor Ali Modu Sheriff.
Governor Shettima’s media aide, Malam Isa Gusau, yesterday said it was necessary to clarify Khadi’s status due to insinuations that the paraded suspect has close ties with him.
He said Khadi has since about four months ago ceased to be his aide after being sacked, adding that “Governor Kashim Shettima never found Khadi with any questionable character as at the time he was appointed.”
Gusau said: “We don’t want to question the integrity of the security agency involved and hence cannot outrightly allege political motive to bring Governor Shettima’s image to disrepute.
“First, let it be noted that our clarification here is not intended to pronounce Khadi guilty of whatever reasons that led to his arrest. The clarification is simply to put the records in their proper perspective.
“Alhaji Junaid Idrissa Khadi was a special adviser to Governor Kashim Shettima following his appointment in 2013 on the insistence of ex-governor Ali Modu Sheriff who, at that time, had the listening ears of his successor, Governor Shettima.
“It was Sheriff as Governor of Borno State that first appointed Khadi in 2010 as one of his special advisers without known designation given the fact that most advisers under Sheriff as governor had no clear jurisdiction.
“When Shettima succeeded Sheriff as governor in 2011, he appointed his advisers without Khadi. Sheriff persistently requested that Shettima should appoint Khadi as an adviser in charge of religious affairs which Shettima later accepted in 2013, two years after other advisers were already in office,” he said.
“Khadi as everyone can attest to, remained closer to Sheriff before he was sacked by Shettima four months ago when Governor Shettima dissolved his cabinet, relieving all commissioners, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants of their positions to reposition his administration,” Gusau noted. President Goodluck Jonathan has written to congratulate retired General Muhammadu Buhari on his 72nd birthday anniversary which comes up today.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, disclosed this in a statement last night. He said in a congratulatory letter addressed to Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2015 presidential election, that Jonathan prayed that Almighty God grants him many more years of good health and personal fulfilment.
Abati quoted the president as writing: “As you mark your 72nd birthday anniversary, I write, on behalf of my family, the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to extend warm felicitations to you.
“I join your family, friends and wellwishers to thank God for your life and to pray that He continues to guide, guard and prosper you even as He blesses you with many more years of abounding health and personal fulfilment”.
The presidential spokesman also quoted his principal as wishing General Buhari a very happy birthday.