Nigeria’s State Security Service, the SSS in Kano, northwest Nigeria has cleared the air on the recent battle with the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, insisting that the authorities are ready to dialogue with the Islamic sect only if they would remove their veil and bring themselves forward for talks.
Bassey Eteng, Director of State Security Services (SSS) in Kano noted that President Goodluck Jonathan remains willing to dialogue with members and sponsors of the Boko Haram Islamic sect, but reiterated the need for the Islamic fundamentalists to make themselves known to the authorities.
“From the security angle, we are not just looking at this thing as a one track approach, you remember Mr. President made it very clear that he is open to dialogue but people who are interested in dialogue should make themselves available.
“In other words, they should make themselves public and known so that somebody will know that he is dialoguing with some people. So, even in Kano, I know that the state government and security agencies have started making overtures to make sure that it is possible that if we see what is possible to make dialogue would be made possible.
“So, we are not ruling out dialogue at all because dialogue will be the final analysis of what will resolve the problem we are facing now; so, dialogue is not ruled out and every encouragement is given to ensure that dialogue is given the necessary place,” Eteng stated.
He explained why security men remain targets of the Islamic sect stating that, stating that the group’s strategy remain to neutralize security operatives so as to continue their attacks to other organizations who would have been vulnerable to their antics.
The SSS boss also hinted that most people who were killing on security uniform were “enemies of the state” who disguised to perpetrate their nefarious activities against hapless civilians.
Also in a Press Release by the Joint Security Task Force, they explained in details, their recent encounter with the Boko Haram sect.
According to the Release credited to Lieutenant Ikedichi Onyenonachi Iweha, on January 6, 2012, “officers of the newly formed Kano State Joint Security Task Force conducted a security enforcement operation at Mariri area in Warawa Local Government Area of the Kano metropolis.
“The suspects on sighting the first elements of the Joint Services team without provocation opened gun fire on the teams using AK47 riffles. The security personnel restrained themselves. However, within minutes, it became clear that the suspects had improvised explosives devices on them as they were freely throwing them at the joint service team.
“Based on this observation, the Joint Services assault team had to effectively cordon the area and engaged the men in sustained gunfire which lasted till 0340 hours of 7 January, 2012. It was observed that the occupants of the compound had substantial fire power and continued firing and throwing IEDs indiscriminately. However, the reinforcement brought finally resulted in the target area being dominated.
“At the end of the stand off, four casualties were recorded on the side of the suspected terrorists while none on the side of the security agencies. Thereafter, a search of the premises revealed that suspects facility which was attacked is a bomb manufacturing facility as well as an operational warehouse with IEDs (unexploded), ten AK 47 riffles with twenty seven loaded magazines of ammunition, one pump action gun, two hundred and twenty three live ammunitions in packets, several mobile police uniforms and assorted identity cards to facilitate suspects’ terrorist operations, several bags of Urea fertilizers, as well as assorted connection cables for detonating IEDs.
“The success of the operation is hinged on the fact that these materials would have been unleashed not only on the Joint Security Forces, but innocent members of the public, as was witnessed sadly on 20th January, 2012. The Joint Task Forces sincerely appreciated the overwhelming support it has been receiving from the good people of Kano who have since been providing valuable information that has so far been helping to make the citizens safe,” the Release stated.
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