OPERATIVES of the United States’ domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, have taken over the investigations of Friday’s bombing of the UN building in Abuja.
Sources told THE PUNCH that the FBI agents probing the bombing had sidelined investigators from theNigeria Police and the State Security Service.
A source in one of the security agencies, whorequested anonymity, said the takeover had the support of the Federal Government. The source added thatthe government might have lost confidence in the Police, SSS and other security agenciesfor their alleged failure to halt the bombings inthe country.
At least 18 people diedin the bombing of the UN building last Friday. The violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, has claimed responsibility for the attack which attracted condemnation worldwide.
Although a few members of the police intelligence unit were said to be part of the investigation of the latest bombing in the federal capital territory, our correspondents gathered that the nation’s security agencies had indeed been asked to take the back seat.
Our correspondent gathered that there was grumbling among the top security and intelligence officers who felt “embarrassed and ridiculed” by the development.
Top security agents in the country also believed that the FBI’s efforts were bound to achieve little “due to the unfamiliar terrain and peculiar Nigerian environment.”
A senior police officer who spoke to our correspondent on Sunday attributed theirskepticism to the failure of the foreign experts to provide tangible clues to past bombings in the country which they also investigated.
“FBI operatives and other foreign experts have been taking part in investigations into the bombings in the country from the October 1, 2010 incident to the June 16,2011 Force Headquarters blast. Yet, they have not been able to provide any useful lead that could help us to apprehend the masterminds.
No comments:
Post a Comment